News

View most recent announcements and updates on our Announcements page.


Press Release, April 29, 2024: Santa Margarita Groundwater Basin Conditions Improved in 2023, Thanks to Wet Winter and Record Low Demand 

Santa Cruz Mountain Bulletin, June 22, 2023: Seven Groundwater Monitoring Wells

Press Release, March 10, 2023: Get to Know Groundwater During Groundwater Awareness Week

Board Meeting Recap - May - June 2022: Groundwater monitoring project advances with well site selection

Board Meeting Recap - Spring 2022: Water Year 2021 Annual Report shows stable groundwater levels

Board Meeting Recap - January 2022: New Board Chair Selected

Board Meeting Recap - November 2021: Groundwater Sustainability Plan Adopted

Board Meeting Recap - October 2021: Groundwater Sustainability Plan Public Comments Reviewed

Press Release: Groundwater Sustainability Plan Adopted by Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency

Board Meeting Recap - September 2021: Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan Public Comment Period Closes

My Scotts Valley, September 9, 2021: Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan Public Comment Period Continues Until Sept. 23

Press release: Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan Public Comment Period Continues Until Sept. 23, 2021

Scotts Valley Times, August 2021: Got Groundwater?

Press Banner, August 13, 2021: Local groundwater agency plan open for public comment

Santa Cruz Sentinel, July 29, 2021: Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency to host sustainability event Saturday      

Board Meeting Recap – July 2021: Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan Released 

Press Release: Community Invited to Family-Friendly Event “Drought: Global Challenge, Local Solutions” to Share Progress on Groundwater Sustainability Plan

Board Meeting Recap – May/June 2021: Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan nears completion

Board Meeting Recap – April 2021: SMGWA Board Reviews Projects and Management Actions

Press Release: New Monitoring Wells Planned for Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency

Board Meeting Recap – March 2021: SMGWA Board Aims to Complete Draft of GSP for Review in July

Board Meeting Recap – February 2021: SMGWA Board Seeks New Well Owner Representative, Progresses on Groundwater Sustainability Plan

Board Meeting Recap – January 2021: Hydrogeological Modeling Scenarios Reviewed

Board Meeting Recap – Winter 2020: SMGWA Board Finishes 2020 with Workshop, Two Meetings

Board Meeting Recap – October 2020: SMGWA Board Explores Private Well Owner Role

Board Meeting Recap – September 2020: Board Advances Development of Groundwater Sustainability Plan

Press Release: Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency Offers Second Session of Groundwater Steward Program

Board Meeting Recap – August 2020: SMGWA Board Makes Significant Progress on Groundwater Sustainability Plan

Board Meeting Recap – July 2020: SMGWA Board Reviews Communication Plan

Board Meeting Recap – June 2020: SMGWA Board Discusses Goals for Groundwater Levels

Press Release: Groundwater Steward Program

Board Meeting Recap – May 2020: SMGWA Board Considers Standards for Groundwater Levels, Quality

Board Meeting Recap – April 2020: SMGWA Board of Directors Dive into Groundwater Level Discussion

Board Meeting Recap – March 2020: SMGWA Board Reviews Groundwater Quality Goals

Board Meeting Recap – February 2020: SMGWA Board Considers Sustainability Criteria for Groundwater Quality

Press Banner, February 14, 2020: Establishing a Plan for 2022

Press Banner, April 5, 2019:  Words Matter for new Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency

My Scotts Valley Magazine, January 28, 2019:  Mark Stone to speak at Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency workshop on 2/9

Press Banner, January 18, 2019: Complex answers about growth and water supply

Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 6, 2019:  Bruce McPherson: Water agency will be important for years to come

California Department of Water Resources, January 4, 2019:  DWR Finalizes Basin Prioritizations under SGMA

Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency Press Release, December 11, 2018:  Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency Announces Three-Part ‘Understanding Our Water’ Educational Series

California Department of Water Resources, April 4, 2018:  The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Finalizes $85.8 Million in Grants for Local Sustainable Groundwater Management Agencies (SGMA) Implementation.

Press Banner, March 9, 2018:  SMGWA first meeting of 2018 

Press Banner, February 22, 2018:  SMGWA Aims to Maintain Water Flow

Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency Press Release, February 7, 2018:  $1 Million Grant Recommended for Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency by California Department of Water Resources

County of Santa Cruz Press Release, February 22, 2017: Groundwater Agency Formation Stakeholder Meeting

Santa Cruz Sentinel, March 4, 2017: New Water Agency on the Horizon for Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley.

Santa Cruz Sentinel, December 10, 2015: Santa Cruz County, water districts explore groundwater sustainability agency

KQED, September 17, 2014: What to Know About California’s New Groundwater Law