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ARTICLE · 06 AUGUST 2026

Recent Court Case Limits And Shapes Judicial Review Under SGMA

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A California appellate court decision establishes new boundaries for challenging groundwater sustainability plans under SGMA, potentially limiting judicial review scope while clarifying when courts should defer to the Department of Water Resources' technical expertise. The ruling addresses critical procedural questions about reverse validation actions and the application of primary jurisdiction doctrine in groundwater management disputes.

United StatesEnvironment
Gina Nicholls
Gina Nicholls
Alexander J. Van Roekel
Alexander J. Van Roekel
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A July 30, 2026 decision from the Court of Appeal for the Third Appellate District in California in AquAlliance, et al. v. Vina Groundwater Sustainability Agency, et al. will shape what challenges will be brought under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and what those challenges will look like going forward. Importantly, the decision may limit the scope of judicial review of groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) and encourage deference to the Department of Water Resources (DWR).

SGMA Basics

SGMA is California’s law for managing its groundwater resources. Its core concept is to encourage local control of groundwater. Local agencies that formed groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) are responsible for developing GSPs describing how they will bring their groundwater basins into a condition of sustainability and manage them sustainably going forward. DWR reviews those GSPs initially and then on a recurring basis. DWR and the State Water Resources Control Board

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