SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Department of Water Resources awarded $47 million in grant funding to 53 applicants to support local agencies in development of plans to manage groundwater basins for long-term sustainability. These grants will support various projects including facilitating community outreach efforts, preparing feasibility studies for proposed actions to restore groundwater supplies and installing monitoring wells to oversee groundwater levels.

“Sustainable management of our groundwater basins is a critical aspect of making our communities more resilient” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “The investments we make today will ensure that groundwater, such a critical resource for our state, continues to be a part of California’s water portfolio long into the future.”

The grants were awarded to nearly 30 groundwater sustainability agencies for the installation of monitoring wells to better evaluate the needs of the groundwater basins in their area. Five other grant recipients will conduct aerial electromagnetic surveys to map aquifer conditions to better assess groundwater quality and storage conditions and to identify opportunities for recharge.

Visit the Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program webpage to learn more.