Population growth and more intensive land use are projected to place increasing pressure on California’s water resources while at the same time, surface runoff is expected to decline due to climate change. Additionally, efforts aimed at regional self-sufficiency often involve groundwater resources and storage. These factors point to an increasing reliance on groundwater; however, many of the state’s aquifers are either contaminated or overdrafted, and in some cases both. Therefore, the clean up and protection of groundwater resources is an important piece of the discussion in solving California’s water challenges.
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) and the nine regional boards have broad responsibilities to protect both surface and groundwater quality that include developing statewide and regional water quality control plans and establishing and implementing water quality standards. The water boards also have broad constitutional authority to prevent the waste and unreasonable use of the State’s water resources, including groundwater.
The State Water Board is currently developing a workplan to address groundwater issues with the goal of promoting collaboration and cooperation among local, regional, and State agencies and other stakeholders that will help promote more effective groundwater management and support beneficial uses over the long-term.
The water boards currently implement several programs that are aimed at preventing and cleaning up groundwater pollution, monitoring water quality, and encouraging recharge. The workplan looks to align these existing groundwater protection efforts with those of other entities who also have groundwater management responsibilities, as well as identify additional actions that could be taken. The workplan is also being developed to ensure that the Water Boards are focusing their limited resources on the most pressing groundwater issues and are facilitating efficient local and regional groundwater management.
The State Water Board has drafted a concept paper to provide a starting point for discussions in the development of the workplan. The paper lists the actions the water boards are currently taking as well as potential actions the water boards or other entities could take. Water board staff are looking for input on the document as well as the types of actions that are needed for effective groundwater solutions, particularly in the areas of greatest need. Over the next few months, they will be meeting with various interests to continue the dialog and are planning to discuss the input they’ve received with the State Water Board in January, 2014.
For more information:
- To read the concept paper, click here.
- For more information on the development of the groundwater workplan, click here.
