View most recent announcements and updates on our Announcements page.
See our full newsletter archive here: Santa Margarita Groundwater Basin Newsletter Archive
Press Release, June 2, 2025: New Report: Groundwater pumping rate reaches lowest amount in 40 years in Santa Margarita Basin; condition of Basin improving
Press Release, April 29, 2024: Santa Margarita Groundwater Basin Conditions Improved in 2023, Thanks to Wet Winter and Record Low Demand
SMGWA Newsletter - October 2023: October 2023 Highlights from the Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency
SMGWA Newsletter - August 2023: August 2023 Highlights from the Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency
Santa Cruz Mountain Bulletin, June 22, 2023: Seven Groundwater Monitoring Wells
SMGWA Newsletter - May 2023: May 2023 Highlights from the Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency
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
SMGWA Newsletter - February 2022: SMGWA board of directors selects new leaders
Board Meeting Recap - January 2022: New Board Chair Selected
Board Meeting Recap - November 2021: Groundwater Sustainability Plan Adopted
SMGWA Newsletter - November 2021: Groundwater Sustainability Plan adopted by SMGWA Board
Board Meeting Recap - October 2021: Groundwater Sustainability Plan Public Comments Reviewed
SMGWA Newsletter - October 2021: New Groundwater Sustainability Plan summary available
Press Release: Groundwater Sustainability Plan Adopted by Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency
Board Meeting Recap - September 2021: Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan Public Comment Period Closes
SMGWA Newsletter - September 2021: Public comments now accepted on draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan
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
SMGWA Newsletter - July 2021: Understanding Our Water
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