Sustainable Groundwater Management Act: groundwater sustainability plans.
The bill's amendments to existing law provide clearer guidelines for groundwater sustainability agencies and reinforce the collaborative nature of groundwater management. By ensuring that these agencies can coordinate their efforts effectively, AB 709 seeks to protect the state’s water resources, especially in high- and medium-priority basins that are crucial for state water management. Additionally, the bill encourages agencies to maintain flexibility in managing their plans by allowing amendments to coordination agreements after an assessment by the department, which can lead to better compliance with state standards and flexibility based on evolving local conditions.
Assembly Bill 709, introduced by Assembly Member Jeff Gonzalez, amends Section 10733.4 of the Water Code to clarify processes involved in groundwater sustainability plans under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Specifically, the bill addresses scenarios where multiple groundwater sustainability agencies create plans for a single basin. It establishes that the required joint submission of plans to the Department of Water Resources should occur only after the entire basin is covered by sustainability plans. This aspect aims to enhance collaborative efforts among different agencies in managing groundwater resources effectively during the planning process.
While AB 709 aims to streamline groundwater planning, it may bring forth discussions about the balance of authority and local control in water management. Some stakeholders may argue that while coordination is essential, the bill could dilute the individual objectives of smaller agencies and complicate responses to localized groundwater issues. The legislative history and discussions around this bill may highlight the varied perspectives on how best to manage water resources while still respecting local authority and sustainable land use practices.