Groundwater Sustainability Plan
Overview
MAGSA’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is a roadmap for how the local area will avoid the negative effects of groundwater overdraft and achieve sustainability by 2040. Developing and implementing a GSP is a Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requirement.
About MAGSA’s GSP: The GSP includes a physical description of the groundwater management area including groundwater conditions, a water budget, management criteria, a monitoring program, and innovative projects and management actions to help MAGSA reach sustainability by 2040.
About the Kings Subbasin Coordination Agreement: MAGSA is one of seven Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) within the Kings Subbasin. All seven GSAs developed their own GSP. Together, these GSAs are coordinating under a formal Coordination Agreement to achieve groundwater sustainability in the region.
Download MAGSA’s GSP
Download the Kings Subbasin Coordination Agreement
GSP Milestones
- July 2019 – Board approves releasing draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan for 90-day public review (read more)
- November 2019 – Board adopts final Groundwater Sustainability Plan (read more)
- January 2020 – MAGSA and the six other GSAs in the Kings Subbasin jointly submitted their Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSP) to the Department of Water Resources for initial review (read more)
- January 2022 – Department of Water Resources finishes GSP review, and issues comments and an incomplete determination requiring revisions within 180 days (read more)
- July 2022 – Revised GSP submitted to Department of Water Resources for review (read more)
- March 2023 – Department of Water Resources approves the GSP (read more)
Latest GSP News
GSP Frequently Asked Questions
Why did MAGSA develop a Groundwater Sustainability Plan?
The Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is a requirement of the 2014 California law, Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The State law requires all high- and medium-priority basin Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) develop and implement a GSP. Basins designated as medium- or high-priority and critically overdrafted were required to complete and submit a GSP to the State by January 31, 2020. GSAs are required to update their GSP every five years. SGMA defines a basin as critically overdrafted “when continuation of present water management practices would probably result in significant adverse overdraft-related environmental, social, or economic impacts.” The GSP is a roadmap for how a basin will avoid the adverse effects of overdraft and achieve balanced levels of groundwater to reach sustainability.
The McMullin Area GSA (MAGSA) is located in the Kings Subbasin, designated under SGMA as a high-priority, critically overdrafted basin. MAGSA developed and submitted its GSP and a Kings Subbasin Coordination Agreement to the State ahead of the January 31, 2020 deadline. The GSP was revised and resubmitted in 2022 in response to DWR’s initial review and comments.
What is a Groundwater Sustainability Plan?
A Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is a roadmap for how a basin will avoid the adverse effects of groundwater overdraft and achieve balanced levels of groundwater to reach sustainability.
MAGSA’S GSP includes a physical description of the groundwater management area including groundwater conditions, a water budget, groundwater management criteria, a monitoring program, and projects and measurable objectives to become sustainable by 2040. It is the goal of the MAGSA Board to allow flexibility in supply and demand-side solutions to achieve sustainability.
While the State’s requirements for a GSP’s content are the same for all GSAs, MAGSA’s issues and solutions are very specific to the unique challenges within the groundwater management area that it serves.
Who is involved in implementing the Groundwater Sustainability Plan?
Groundwater Sustainability Agency
The State has granted local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) powers to implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in groundwater subbasins. In many cases, multiple GSAs exist within a subbasin – the State measures sustainability success at the subbasin level rather than individual GSA level.
Although GSAs may choose to develop individual GSPs, they must cooperate under a formal Coordination Agreement to bring the subbasin to sustainable groundwater levels by 2040.
The McMullin Area GSA is one of seven GSAs in the Kings Subbasin. Each GSA developed and submitted its own GSP to the State, and will coordinate under a formal Coordination Agreement to ensure sustainability is met in the Kings Subbasin by 2040.
CA Department of Water Resources
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is the regulating and assisting agency under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Their role is to review and approve Groundwater Sustainability Plans and track progress of local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) implementing their Plans. They also assist GSAs by providing data, tools, and technical support services.
Stakeholders
MAGSA highly values the input and participation of its stakeholders. Engagement in MAGSA’s activities is necessary for the consideration of local stakeholders’ interests and preferences. MAGSA will continue to provide opportunities for the public to engage in the GSP implementation process.
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State Water Resources Control Board
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Board or SWRCB) is the enforcement agency under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Their role is to enforce SGMA mandates are met at the local level by Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs). If GSAs fail to meet SGMA’s mandates, the State Board will intervene to implement the law.
If a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is found by CA DWR to be inadequate or its implementation is inadequate, the subbasin may be subject to probation. If a subbasin fails to correct its issues under probation, the State Board will intervene to manage the groundwater area. Under State Intervention, the State Board would require any groundwater extractors to file an extraction report with the State Board. The associated fees of State Intervention (base filing fees for wells, groundwater extraction fees) are much higher than fees that may be collected by the local GSA, and would not include beneficial local projects or incentives for sustainability.
External Links and Resources
External Links
California Department of Water Resources: SGMA Portal
California Department of Water Resources: Best Management Practices and Guidance Documents
State Water Resources Control Board: SGMA Page
State Water Resources Control Board: State Intervention
GSP Emergency Regulations
Resources
GSP Key Terms and Acronyms
Kings Subbasin Map
Sustainability Indicator Infographics