Sustainable Management Criteria: Groundwater Levels
SGMA requires the GSA to develop sustainability criteria for “the chronic lowering of groundwater levels indicating a significant and unreasonable depletion of supply if continued over the planning and implementation horizon.”
Lowering of Groundwater Levels was the first sustainability indicator considered by the GSA, as it contains the most straightforward and robust dataset and is related to most of the other indicators. For example, groundwater levels could be used as a proxy for other sustainability indicators. In addition, this indicator will best help the GSA move forward with other related considerations (e.g., representative monitoring sites and management areas).
The Groundwater Levels SMC is still under development.
The materials, below, are presented in chronological order, and include presentations to the GSA Board and Advisory Committee, staff reports, and written Advisory Committee feedback on specific questions.
January 14, 2020: GWL Introduction Staff Report to Advisory Committee
January 14, 2020: GWL Introduction Presentation to Advisory Committee
January 27, 2020: GWL Introduction Presentation to the Board
February 11, 2020: GWL Presentation to Advisory Committee
February 11, 2020: GWL Significant and Undesirable Results Advisory Committee Input
February 11, 2020: GWL Representative Monitoring Points Staff Report to Advisory Committee
February 11, 2020: GWL Representative Monitoring Points Presentation to Advisory Committee
March 10, 2020: GWL Minimum Thresholds and Measurable Objectives Staff Report to Advisory Committee