Public Involvement in SGMA

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires that the Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) encourage the active involvement of diverse social, cultural, and economic elements of the population within the groundwater basin. To do so, SGMA sets out numerous public notice requirements for both local GSAs and the State. These requirements include:

• Public notice and hearing before establishing a GSA, adopting or amending a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP), or imposing or increasing a fee;
• Creation and use of an interested persons list for the subbasin or GSA;
• Participation of federally recognized Indian Tribes sharing the interest of the sustainability of the groundwater agency (if tribes choose to participate);
• Development of a written statement describing the manner in which interested parties may participate in the development and implementation of the GSP.

In addition, SGMA requires that GSAs consider the interests of all beneficial uses and users of groundwater throughout the GSA and GSP development process.