Groundwater well registration is provided by Watermark, an online data management system funded through assessments on property owners. The portal opened July 1, 2026. The registration deadline is Aug. 31, 2026. Click the buttons below for more information, or view this step-by-step tutorial on how to use Watermark.

What if I don't have a well?

If you received a mailer but don't have a well on your property, you are still required to claim your parcel and declare that it does not have a well. This confirms your status as a non-well owner and keeps our records accurate throughout the EMA. We have developed a streamlined form to enable you to declare no wells on your property without going through the full registration process. Complete the form <HERE> to claim no wells on your property. To do thisIf you prefer, you can also do this by log, logging into the Watermark Well Registration Portal using the ID printed on your flyer, then select "No Wells on Parcel" for your property.

How do I verify that my property is within Eastern Management Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s (EMA GSA) jurisdiction?

If you received a mailer notification then our records indicate that your parcel is located in the EMA GSA’s jurisdiction. For additional assistance, you may contact the EMA at (805) 457-5065, via email: wellreg-ema@santaynezwater.org, or by mail: P.O. BOX 7098, LOS OSOS, CA 93412. Please be ready to provide your property address(es) and/or APN(s).

I have a small property. Am I exempt? Do I need to register my well?

All groundwater extraction facilities or wells within the EMA GSA jurisdiction are subject to the well registration requirements of EMA GSA Ordinance 2025-01. This includes De Minimis groundwater extractors of 2.0 acre-feet or less per year. This will allow EMA to improve its understanding of all groundwater extraction throughout the basin and better inform management decisions.

Who can I contact for assistance with well registration?

For assistance accessing the EMA GSA Watermark Well Registration and Reporting Portal (EMA GSA Watermark Portal), property owners/operators can direct questions to EMA GSA at (805) 457-5065 or wellreg-ema@santaynezwater.org.

Who has access to my well registration information?

All well registration information input in the EMA GSA Watermark Portal becomes the intellectual property of the EMA GSA and is only accessible by EMA GSA staff. This data will be treated as confidential in a manner consistent with applicable law and any rules, regulations, ordinances, or policies adopted by the EMA GSA Board of Directors.

How will EMA use my well registration information?

The data collected from well owners helps simplify groundwater management and support Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) compliance. The well registration information will be utilized to support implementation of EMA GSA Ordinance No. 2025-03, which requires all wells in the EMA to install water meters by June 30, 2027. Combined, the information will be used to generate reports on groundwater extraction and will be used to calculate EMA GSA groundwater extraction fees starting in 2028.

My well is already registered with the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District. Will I have to register my well again with the EMA GSA?

The Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District (SYRWCD) has boundaries that include a portion of the EMA (referred to as SYRWCD Zone E), and SYRWCD requires well registration on all Zone E groundwater producers (Agricultural, Domestic, Municipal, Other). SYRWCD indicates that its well registration requirement is for certain activities and purposes that are separate from the activities and purposes of the EMA GSA. Therefore, groundwater producers located in SYRWCD Zone E will have to register their wells with both organizations. However, the SYRWCD has shared its well registration information for Zone E and that information has been pre-populated into the EMA GSA Watermark Portal to aid the EMA GSA registration efforts for well owners in SYRWCD Zone E.

What if my Groundwater Extraction Facility is inactive or abandoned?

Inactive and abandoned wells both require registration. An inactive well is defined as a well that is not currently used but is maintained for potential future use. An abandoned well is defined as a well that has not been used for over a year and does not have a plan for future use. Destroyed wells (plugged and sealed with cement or bentonite grout) are not subject to well registration.

Are there any fines or penalties for those who fail to comply?

Failure to comply with well registration and/or reporting requirements may result in administrative and civil penalties or other remedies in accordance with Water Code Section 10732, as may be determined by the EMA GSA’s Board of Directors.

Do these requirements apply equally to all well owners and operators?

Yes, all existing Groundwater Extraction Facilities located within the boundaries of EMA, except River Extractors, including De Minimis Extractors, shall be registered with the EMA GSA within sixty (60) days of receiving a registration form from the GSA.

Following well registration, property owners/operators must install a well meter (i.e., Flow Meter) that meets the standards set by the EMA GSA and submit the accompanying Flow Meter Installation and Compliance Form by June 30, 2027.

Once installed, property owners or operators must record the Flow Meter totalizer monthly. Beginning on October 31, 2027 and on at least a biannual basis (twice per year) thereafter, the property owner/operator must submit a Groundwater Extraction Form reporting monthly meter readings. Monthly readings for April and July through September are due by October 31, and monthly readings for October through March are due by April 30 of each year.