State board returns Delta-Mendota subbasin to DWR after finding plan adequately revised
April 07, 2026 | State Water Resources Control Board, Boards and Commissions, Executive, California
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The State Water Resources Control Board voted unanimously April 7 to return the Delta‑Mendota groundwater subbasin to the Department of Water Resources (DWR), concluding the basin’s revised 2024 groundwater sustainability plan sufficiently addressed problems that led to earlier state intervention.
Board staff told members the six previously inadequate plans were consolidated into a single 2024 GSP that substantially improved coordination among 23 local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) and added protections for groundwater levels, water quality and infrastructure. Staff recommended ending the board’s probationary oversight because the revised plan includes pumping‑reduction frameworks, domestic‑well mitigation measures and an expanded monitoring network.
“Since the DWR inadequate determination in 2023, staff reviewed eight GSPs, held 19 technical meetings and worked closely with the basin,” Senior engineering geologist Hannah Daly said. She summarized that most technical issues were resolved, with a small number of partially resolved items remaining for the basin to finish during implementation.
Public commenters were split. The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance urged the board to keep the basin under closer state control, saying unresolved questions about sustainable yield, surface‑water depletion and monitoring remained. Local basin representatives, including the Grassland Groundwater Sustainability Agency and members of the Delta‑Mendota JPA, said the consolidated plan and new pumping‑reduction plans represented a substantial, collaborative fix and asked the board to return jurisdiction to DWR so locals could continue implementation.
Board members praised basin leaders and staff for the extensive coordination required to produce a single GSP. Board member Shawn Magcguire moved adoption of the staff recommendation; it was seconded and carried on a roll call vote with all five members present voting yes.
What happens next: returning the basin to DWR restores DWR’s primary oversight role for GSP implementation and monitoring; board staff said they would continue to track GSA group pumping reduction plans and well‑mitigation work.
Sources: Staff presentation and public comments at the April 7 State Water Resources Control Board meeting. The board’s staff assessment and the basin’s 2024 GSP were cited during the presentation.
Board staff told members the six previously inadequate plans were consolidated into a single 2024 GSP that substantially improved coordination among 23 local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) and added protections for groundwater levels, water quality and infrastructure. Staff recommended ending the board’s probationary oversight because the revised plan includes pumping‑reduction frameworks, domestic‑well mitigation measures and an expanded monitoring network.
“Since the DWR inadequate determination in 2023, staff reviewed eight GSPs, held 19 technical meetings and worked closely with the basin,” Senior engineering geologist Hannah Daly said. She summarized that most technical issues were resolved, with a small number of partially resolved items remaining for the basin to finish during implementation.
Public commenters were split. The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance urged the board to keep the basin under closer state control, saying unresolved questions about sustainable yield, surface‑water depletion and monitoring remained. Local basin representatives, including the Grassland Groundwater Sustainability Agency and members of the Delta‑Mendota JPA, said the consolidated plan and new pumping‑reduction plans represented a substantial, collaborative fix and asked the board to return jurisdiction to DWR so locals could continue implementation.
Board members praised basin leaders and staff for the extensive coordination required to produce a single GSP. Board member Shawn Magcguire moved adoption of the staff recommendation; it was seconded and carried on a roll call vote with all five members present voting yes.
What happens next: returning the basin to DWR restores DWR’s primary oversight role for GSP implementation and monitoring; board staff said they would continue to track GSA group pumping reduction plans and well‑mitigation work.
Sources: Staff presentation and public comments at the April 7 State Water Resources Control Board meeting. The board’s staff assessment and the basin’s 2024 GSP were cited during the presentation.
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