Indio Subbasin SGMA Compliance

Groundwater Sustainability Agencies

The Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) has been designated an “exclusive” Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) over its service area by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) in the Indio Subbasin. Desert Water Agency (DWA), Coachella Water Authority (CWA), and Indio Water Authority (IWA), were also designated GSAs in the Indio Subbasin over their respective service areas. The four agencies are working collaboratively to implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in the Indio Subbasin.

Alternative to a Groundwater Sustainability Plan

On December 29, 2016, CVWD, DWA, CWA, and IWA collaboratively submitted the 2010 Coachella Valley Water Management Plan Update with an associated Bridge Document as an Alternative to a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (Alternative Plan) for the Indio Subbasin to DWR for review and evaluation. On July 17, 2019, DWR determined that the Alternative Plan for the Indio Subbasin satisfies the objectives of SGMA and notified the Indio Subbasin GSAs that the Alternative Plan was approved, and that they would be required to submit an assessment and update of the Alternative Plan by January 1, 2022 and every five years thereafter. A copy of the Alternative Plan for the Indio Subbasin can be found on DWR’s SGMA Portal.

Alternative Plan Update

The Indio Subbasin GSAs collaboratively prepared the 2022 Indio Subbasin Water Management Plan Update (also known as the 2022 Alternative Plan Update). The GSAs adopted the 2022 Alternative Plan Update following a public hearing on December 7, 2021 and submitted it to DWR on December 29, 2021. The 2022 Alternative Plan Update and information about the update process can be found at www.IndioSubbasinSGMA.org. The 2022 Alternative Plan Update can also be accessed on DWR’s SGMA Portal.

Annual Reports by Water Year

On February 1, 2018, DWR notified all GSAs who submitted Alternative GSPs that they would be required to submit annual reports pursuant to SGMA by April 1, 2018 and every year thereafter. CVWD, DWA, CWA, and IWA have collaboratively prepared and submitted the Indio Subbasin Annual Reports by Water Year to DWR. Copies of the Annual Reports can be found on DWR’s SGMA Portal.

For more information contact:

Zoe Rodriguez del Rey at zrodriguezdelrey@cvwd.org