Environmental Law & Policy Alert – Update from Somach Simmons & Dunn

June 17, 2026

Court Applies Las Posas to Uphold Madera County GSA’s SGMA Groundwater Fees

The Madera County Superior Court has issued a decision upholding the groundwater sustainability fees adopted by the Madera County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (County GSA). The ruling in Valley Groundwater Coalition, an unincorporated association v. County of Madera, a political subdivision of the State of California (Madera Co. Superior Ct. Case No. MCV087677) (Valley Groundwater Coalition) is one of the first trial court applications of Las Posas Valley Water Rights Coalition v. Ventura County Waterworks District No. 1 (2026) 118 Cal.App.5th 1170 (Las Posas) [decided Mar. 5, 2026], and it demonstrates how courts expect Groundwater Sustainability Agencies to structure and justify their Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) fees under the Las Posas framework … Read More

Written by Emily J. Lovell