Alternative Plan Update
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires GSAs in medium- or high-priority groundwater basins to have an approved Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) or Alternative Plan to manage the basin. The Indio Subbasin, which was designated as medium-priority by the State of California, is unique in that it is one of only nine subbasins throughout the State with an approved Alternative Plan. SGMA also requires that a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) or Agencies be established to develop and implement the plan. In the Indio Subbasin, Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD), Desert Water Agency (DWA), Coachella Water Authority (CWA), and Indio Water Authority (IWA) worked together as the Indio GSAs (see Home > Indio GSAs page) and updated their approved Alternative Plan to manage the basin. The Alternative Plan Update was adopted and submitted to DWR in December 2021. DWR approved the Alternative Plan Update on June 27, 2024.
Plan Reports & Resources
2022 Alternative Plan Update
A copy of the final 2022 Indio Subbasin Water Management Plan Update can be downloaded below.
- Indio Subbasin Water Management Plan Update – Volume 1: Alternative Plan
- Indio Subbasin Water Management Plan Update – Volume 2: Appendices
2010 Alternative Plan
A copy of the Alternative Plan for the Indio Subbasin can be downloaded here or found at DWR’s SGMA Portal (Section B).
Annual Report
A copy of the final Indio Subbasin Annual Report for Water Year 2023-2024 and copies of past Annual Reports can be found at DWR’s SGMA Portal (Section D) or can also be downloaded below.
- Indio Subbasin Annual Report for Water Year 2023-2024
- Indio Subbasin Annual Report for Water Year 2022-2023
- Indio Subbasin Annual Report for Water Year 2021-2022
- Indio Subbasin Annual Report for Water Year 2020-2021
- Indio Subbasin Annual Report for Water Year 2019-2020
- Indio Subbasin Annual Report for Water Year 2018-2019
- Indio Subbasin Annual Report for Water Year 2017-2018
- Indio Subbasin Annual Report for Water Year 2016-2017
Overview of Alternative Plan
The Indio Subbasin recognized the need for groundwater management well before SGMA was enacted. In fact, over a decade before the adoption of SGMA, CVWD in collaboration with local stakeholders, began development of the first ever 2002 Coachella Valley Water Management Plan to address groundwater sustainability in the Subbasin. Since then, the Plan has undergone serval rounds of revisions to accommodate the ever-changing factors like population projections and imported water reliability (see Home > History of Groundwater Planning page) that are the basis for groundwater management in the most recent 2022 Alternative Plan.
The goals of the 2022 Coachella Valley Water Management Plan are to:
- Meet current and future demands with a 10% supply buffer
- Avoid chronic groundwater overdraft
- Reduce vulnerability to climate change and drought impacts
- Collaborate with tribes, state, and federal agencies on shared objectives
- Manage and project water quality
- Comply with state and federal laws and regulations
- Manage future costs
- Minimize adverse environmental impacts
The Alternative Plan is available to review here. Key reports are shown below.
Alternative Plan Update
As per SGMA regulations, the Alternative Plan is evaluated every five years to ensure that sustainability goals are still attainable and on track with the groundwater management actions outlined in the Plan. As of this year (2025), the 2022 Alternative Plan is under review process to continue the cycle of reliability and accuracy for the anticipated 2027 Alternative Plan which is the next milestone in the SGMA process. This system of five-year review is continuous through the year 2040, which is SGMA’s goal for all Subbasins to reach consistent sustainability.
The Indio GSAs may make other changes in the Plan Update to ensure the plan meets SGMA requirements and that DWR recommendations have been considered.
Timeline History of the Alternative Plan
Take a look at the table below to get a better idea of how this living document has changed throughout the years!
| Date | Event |
| 2002 | Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) adopts the first Water Management Plan (WMP) to address groundwater overdraft. |
| 2010 | CVWD updates the 2002 WMP to reflect revised water demand forecasts and supply strategies. |
| 2012 | The 2010 Water Management Plan Update is formally adopted by CVWD. |
| 2014 | California enacts the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), requiring GSPs or approved alternatives. |
| December 29, 2016 | Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) submitted the 2010 Coachella Valley Water Management Plan (CVWMP) with a Bridge Document as an Alternative Plan in lieu of a GSP |
| July 17, 2019 | DWR approved the Alternative Plan (CVWMP) — one of only nine in California — and required an update by January 1, 2022 |
| December 15, 2021 | Indio Subbasin GSAs adopted the 2022 Alternative Plan Update; it was formally submitted to DWR in December 2021 |
| June 27, 2024 | DWR approved the 2022 Alternative Plan Update after its first periodic review under SGMA |
| January 2025- Current | The 2022 Alternative Plan is currently under review for as needed updates to produce an accurate 2027 Alternative Plan |
| Common Acronyms CVWD = Coachella Valley Water District CWA = Coachella Water Authority DWA = Desert Water Agency DWR = California Department of Water Resources GSA = Groundwater Sustainability Agency GSP = Groundwater Sustainability Plan IWA = Indio Water Authority JPA = Joint Powers Authority MOA = Memorandum of Agreement SGMA = Sustainable Groundwater Management Act SWRCB = State Water Resources Control Board |