Groundwater Sustainability

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The Kern Water Bank and Sustainable Groundwater Management

In 2014, California enacted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). SGMA is designed to prevent the overdraft of groundwater resources by requiring basins to develop “Groundwater Sustainability Plans” (GSPs) that demonstrate how the landowners within a basin balance the inflow of water with pumping and groundwater uses.

By storing water during wet years for recovery during dry years, the Kern Water Bank plays a significant role in helping achieve long-term basin sustainability in the Southern San Joaquin Valley.

On these pages, you can learn more about the Kern Water Bank’s role in helping achieve groundwater sustainability and specific activities related to the implementation of SGMA.