In the recent landmark case, City of Marina et al., v. County of Monterey et al., Case No. H049575, the Sixth District Court of Appeal issued the first published decision interpreting California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The court’s decision endorsed the County of Monterey’s groundwater management procedures, thus setting a precedent for similar ongoing and future litigation.
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, passed in September 2014, is a series of regulations intending to manage and protect groundwater sources across California. Since its enactment, there have been varying interpretations and conflicts sparked within local governments and private parties across the state. Therefore, this first published ruling is of critical importance to the application and understanding of the law.
The appeal case revolved around the Monterey County’s implementation and regulations of the SGMA’s guidelines, and how it manages its groundwater. The decision to uphold the County’s actions shows judicial support and can provide a useful reference to other jurisdictions encountering similar issues.
Read more about the detailed proceedings of this case.
This precedent-setting decision should assist corporations, law firms, and legal professionals who are dealing with SGMA-related disputes and litigations, as well as offer guidance to various stakeholders in understanding the legal landscape of groundwater management under the SGMA. It has effectively shed light on how regulatory compliance must be observed going forward.