California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) was established a decade ago to address groundwater over-exploitation by ensuring aquifers are balanced—recharging them with water as much as is taken out. Despite significant Sierra snowpacks in recent years, excess water often flows to the ocean due to reservoir capacity limits, missing opportunities for groundwater recharge. Groundwater agencies are struggling to comply with SGMA due to lack of access to excess water for recharge, leading some to seek court interventions.
The proposal suggests that the state should claim all excess water for groundwater recharge, asserting that this would support aquifer balance without abolishing existing water rights. This requires legislative changes or asserting existing authorities. Climate change necessitates this preparation for years of both drought and heavy precipitation, ensuring excess water is used beneficially for groundwater recharge to secure future water availability and support local sustainability agencies. Immediate action is needed to prepare for future wet years.