From the Groundwater Demand Management Network:

“A coalition of leading water experts recently announced the launch of the Groundwater Demand Management Network, a new statewide initiative designed to create a comprehensive community of practice for managing California’s critical groundwater resources.

The Network has launched its California Groundwater Community Needs Assessment to help shape programming, identify priority needs, and establish partnerships across the state. The Network encourages all interested parties to take the five-minute survey available at: https://bit.ly/gdmn-survey. The survey should be completed by September 31, 2025. The outcomes will prove invaluable to guide the services the Network will offer.

With California facing increasing water scarcity and the ongoing implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, the Network aims to connect groundwater managers, agricultural producers, municipal water suppliers, and other partners to share knowledge, tools, and strategies for sustainable water use.

“California’s groundwater sustainability depends on collaboration and shared expertise,” said Dr. Robyn Grimm, CEO and President of the California Water Data Consortium and Network leadership team member. “This Network will create a platform where water users can access cutting-edge data tools, learn from each other’s experiences, and develop evidence-based solutions to our most pressing water challenges.”

The Network’s leadership team brings together expertise from academia, environmental organizations, and engineering:

• Dr. Robyn Grimm, CEO and President, California Water Data Consortium
• Dr. Jeff Davids, Supervising Engineer, Davids Engineering
• Dr. Isaya Kisekka, Director, UC Davis Agricultural Water Center
• Mike Myatt, Senior Director of Climate Resilient Water Systems, Environmental Defense Fund

Mike Myatt emphasized the Network’s comprehensive approach: “We envision building a statewide community that connects everyone from individual farmers to large water districts to provide practical resources, fostering partnerships, and helping implement proven groundwater demand management strategies that work in real-world conditions across California’s diverse regions and beyond.”

About the Groundwater Demand Management Network:  The Network is a community of practice for groundwater demand management, connecting practitioners to share information, tools, and strategies for developing, implementing, and supporting effective demand management actions across California and beyond. Learn more at gdmnetwork.org.