SACRAMENTO, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Legislation regulating California's groundwater statewide for the first time is a "big deal," Gov. Jerry Brown said as he signed the bills Tuesday.
One bill requires local water agencies to develop management plans, and a second sets rules for when the state can intervene if they fail to do so. A third delays state action in some places where pumping groundwater has affected surface water -- a bill designed to ease the concerns of farmers.