Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)

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Current Efforts

Future Adoption of Groundwater Sustainability Plans

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) passed in the fall of 2014, establishes a new structure for managing groundwater resources in California and requires adoption of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) by January 31, 2022. There are three subbasins in Butte County, each preparing a single GSP. Visit the individual subbasin website for details on plan development and upcoming meetings.

Vina Subbasin - Groundwater Sustainability Plan for Adoption

The Vina Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) and Rock Creek Reclamation District GSA will be considering adoption of the Vina GSP at a Joint Meeting on December 15, 2021 at 6 pm. Visit the Vina GSA website for meeting details and information on GSP development and adoption.

Wyandotte Creek Subbasin - Groundwater Sustainability Plan for Adoption

The Wyandotte Creek GSA will be considering adoption of the Wyandotte Creek GSP on December 16, 2021 at 2 pm. Visit the Wyandotte Creek GSA website for meeting details and information on GSP development and adoption.

Butte Subbasin

Notice of Public Hearing - Butte Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan Adoption
Please take notice that the Butte County GSA will hold a Public Hearing on December 14, 2021, at 11 am at the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 25 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA to consider adoption of the final Butte Subbasin GSP.

As required by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), the Butte County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) in cooperation with the other ten GSAs in the subbasin have prepared a single Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the Butte groundwater subbasin. Pursuant to SGMA, the Board of Supervisors will consider public comments at the hearing both verbally and virtually prior to the conclusion of the hearing. Comments may be submitted by email and must include reference to an item number on the agenda. View the Instructions on How to Submit Comments Virtually (PDF).

For more information, please contact Christina Buck, Department of Water and Resource Conservation, at 530-552-3595 or by email.

Butte County SubbasinsSGMA Background

On September 16, 2014, Governor Brown signed into law a package of bills (SB-1168, AB-1739 and SB-1319 (PDF)) collectively called the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (PDF). The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) comprehensively reforms groundwater management in California. The intent of the Act is to place management at the local level under state oversight. Under the Act, the state will have direct oversight of how groundwater basins are managed at the local level and may intervene to manage basins when local agencies fail to take appropriate responsibility.

For general SGMA background, check out the Water Education Foundation's SGMA Handbook (PDF) or visit the Groundwater Exchange website.

Although a state law, SGMA is implemented locally within groundwater subbasins. Butte County is located in portions of three subbasins: Vina, Butte, and Wyandotte Creek.

To find your local subbasin and Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) information visit the GSA Map Viewer.

Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Development

A Prop 1 GSP planning grant is funding the development of a GSP in each of the three subbasins. Butte County is administering the grant on behalf of all GSAs in the subbasins.

View the Grant Agreement (PDF).

Inter-Basin Coordination in the Northern Sacramento Valley

For more information on how subbasins throughout the region are coordinating SGMA efforts, visit our Inter-Basin Coordination page.

Recent Groundwater Studies Conducted by the County