State board says five‑year recharge permits are working but cost, CEQA and method hurdles limit use

The California State Assembly convened a committee hearing on March 11 to review implementation of AB 658 and the State Water Resources Control Board’s use of five‑year temporary permits for managed groundwater recharge.

State Water Resources Control Board Chair Joaquin Esquivel told the committee that the board has used the authority created by AB 658 to streamline temporary permits and that recent permitting this season authorized more than 43,000 acre‑feet of underground storage, including seven five‑year permits. "These permits matter because they allow permittees to recharge for five consecutive years without reapplying, creating consistency and allowing applicants to plan and invest in related projects with confidence," Esquivel said.

Why it matters: California’s sustainable groundwater goals—driven by SGMA—rely in part on capturing high flows during storms and storing them underground. The administration’s water supply strategy and recent legislation envision large increases in recharge capacity; committee members said clarifying permit rules and reducing barriers will be needed to translate authorized volumes into actual recharge.

Committee discussion and board recommendations Esquivel and board staff described operational improvements since AB 658, including a shortened…