Ventura County: Environmental Stakeholder Representation in Groundwater Sustainability Agencies

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires the preparation of groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) for nine groundwater basins in Ventura County. The groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) that will prepare these plans consist of government agency and stakeholder representatives. Notably, in Ventura County, each basin is including specific representation of environmental interests in the GSP development process. The Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency (Fox Canyon) has included an environmental representative on its advisory committee and the other GSAs have included an environmental representative on their governing boards. The purpose of this organizational structure is to ensure that the groundwater needs of environmental uses are represented in the planning process.