Periodic Evaluation Requirement

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires a full evaluation of a GSP to be completed no longer than every 5 years following GSP submission. This evaluation is referred to as a Periodic Evaluation (PE). The PE is intended to be a thorough assessment of how a GSP is performing and whether modifications and an amendment to a GSP is needed. In October 2023, DWR released guidance: A Guide to Annual Reports, Periodic Evaluations, & Plan Amendments. Recommended corrective actions (RCA) from the Department of Water Resources’ GSP review must also be addressed by the time of PE submittal. The Santa Margarita Basin RCAs can be found in the DWR GSP approval letter.

Process for the Santa Margarita Basin

The Santa Margarita Basin GSP was submitted to DWR on January 3, 2022, so the GSP PE is due by January 3, 2027. To meet this deadline, work on the PE of the Santa Margarita Basin GSP began in mid-2025. The SMGWA anticipates using its regular Board meetings to receive updates on PE progress and receive public input. The SMGWA will consider whether a GSP amendment is needed as part of the PE process by early 2026.