… SGMA is California’s first ever attempt to regulate groundwater use to protect the state’s aquifers. The San Joaquin Valley — where almost the entire region is considered “critically” overpumped — is ground zero for how SGMA is playing out. Nearly a million acres, or one fifth of the San Joaquin Valley’s irrigated land may have to be idled to achieve SGMA’s goals, according to research by the Public Policy Institute of California. But that economic hit will not be delivered equally. SGMA’s goal is to stop damage caused by excessive pumping — vast areas of subsidence, dried up domestic wells and worsening water quality — by 2040. But the lawdoes not distinguish between smaller, groundwater-dependent farmers … and gigantic corporate-owned farms with seemingly unlimited resources.

Other groundwater news:

• California Post: The new cost that crushes struggling Napa grape growers​