SGMA and Underrepresented Farmers

Groundwater resources play a vital role in maintaining environmental sustainability in California. During a typical year, approximately 40 percent of the state’s total water supply comes from groundwater. During
dry years, groundwater contributes 60 percent (or more) of the state’s total supply, and serves as a critical
buffer against the impacts of drought and climate change. This paper responds to concerns expressed by groundwater sustainability advocates that underrepresented farmers have not been included in the development and implementation of Groundwater SustainabilityPlans (GSPs) under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014. It contains results from the evaluation of 14 Groundwater Sustainability Plans (12 from the San Joaquin Valley and 2 from the Central Coast) with a focus on stakeholder engagement and projected impacts of groundwater decline on underrepresented farmers.