The Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency (YSGA) was formed in response to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014 which requires local, sustainable management of groundwater in identified subbasins throughout California. The YSGA consists of 26 member agencies, each with a seat on the Board of Directors, and represents residential, urban, agricultural and environmental interests.

Since formation, the YSGA has been solely funded by state grants and member agency contributions. Funds have supported agency operations and management, Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) development (approved by the Department of Water Resources in October 2023), and grant-funded projects adopted in the GSP that work toward achieving sustainable groundwater levels by 2042.

At this juncture, it is not feasible for YSGA to remain reliant solely on member agency contributions as it implements the GSP. YSGA will continue to actively pursue grants, however, grant monies are not guaranteed. As such, the Agency commissioned a fee study in June 2025 to develop a funding mechanism that will allow YSGA to become financially self-sufficient. The new funding mechanism will fund GSP implementation by conducting investigative and feasibility studies that advance the understanding of the groundwater basin, annual monitoring and reporting, periodic updates to the GSP, and agency operations. The funding mechanism will not be used to implement projects that involve construction. The study is anticipated to be completed by June 2026.

The fee study will consider the diverse range of groundwater users within the YSGA’s boundaries and other factors in determining funding structure options, such as land use, community characteristics, culture, and demographics. Outreach and communication with various stakeholders, including agricultural and municipal groundwater users, domestic well owners, water providers, environmental interests, and the public, will be fundamental to gathering perspectives about fee methodologies and structures, and garnering opinions about establishing a generally acceptable fee.

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