From the Ground Down: Understanding Local Groundwater Data Collection and Sharing Practices in California

Groundwater provides up to 60 percent of California's water supply, contributes to stream flow, and supports many ecosystems. Despite its importance, groundwater went unregulated until passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in 2014. This legacy resulted in fragmented management, inconsistent data and a broad range of management outcomes, which will make meeting the new legislation's requirements a long and arduous task for many groundwater basins.