Introduction

Groundwater is a critical resource in California, serving as a lifeline for communities, agriculture, and the environment. It provides between 40 to 80 percent of the state's water supply, making responsible management essential for California’s long-term economic and environmental sustainability.   

The passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in 2014 established a forward-thinking, statewide framework aimed at safeguarding California’s groundwater resources. SGMA mandates that high- and medium-priority basins establish Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to develop and implement Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs). These locally governed GSAs are empowered by SGMA with the authority to manage groundwater resources within their jurisdictions.  

By emphasizing local control, SGMA allows GSAs to customize their sustainability plans to address the unique challenges and needs of their respective basins, fostering a more effective and community-driven approach to groundwater management. These plans focus on resolving critical issues such as overdraft and other undesirable results, ensuring that groundwater conditions remain sustainable through 2042 and beyond. 

To support local SGMA implementation, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) provides regulatory oversight, evaluates GSPs, and offers ongoing technical, financial, and planning assistance. DWR’s Sustainable Groundwater Management (SGM) Grant Program further supports local efforts by funding projects that promote long-term groundwater sustainability and help fulfill SGMA’s groundwater management requirements. 

The Wyandotte Creek GSA

The Wyandotte Creek Subbasin, identified as a medium-priority basin by DWR, is managed solely by the Wyandotte Creek Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA). Formed through a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the County of Butte, the City of Oroville, and the Thermalito Water and Sewer District, the GSA operates under a five-member Board of Directors. The board includes representatives from each member agency as well as an agricultural groundwater user and a domestic well user, ensuring broad local representation.

The Wyandotte Creek GSP serves as the roadmap to achieving sustainable groundwater management in the subbasin. It was developed with input from local stakeholders and submitted for review to DWR in January 2022. The plan focuses on protecting groundwater for all beneficial uses, including rural communities, agricultural operations, and environmental needs.

Wyandotte Creek Subbasin Sustainability Goal

The sustainability goal of the Wyandotte Creek Subbasin is to manage groundwater to ensure a reliable supply of adequate quantity and quality to support rural areas, communities, agriculture, and environmental uses now and in the future.