SU STA IN A BLE G RO U N DWATER MANAGEMENT ACT (SGMA) and GSA FORMATION for the CUYAMA VALLEY GROUNDWATER BA SIN

Transcription

1 SU STA IN A BLE G RO U N DWATER MANAGEMENT ACT (SGMA) and GSA FORMATION for the CUYAMA VALLEY GROUNDWATER BA SIN Public Workshop October 27, pm 8 pm Cuyama Elementary School, School Cafeteria, 2300 Highway 166, Cuyama, CA

2 AGEN DA 6:00pm Welcome, Purpose of the M eeting & Introduction of Presenters 6:15pm Presentation Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) O verview Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) Overview Current Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) Discussion O verview Department of Water Resources Role in SGM A State Role in Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SG M A ) 7:0 0-7:30pm Moderated Comment Question & A nswer Session Public & Stakeholder Comments, Questions/ Answers Q&A handout of answers to submitted questions 7:30-8:00pm Break-O ut Sessions/ O pen House Reception M eet, Greet, Break-O ut Sessions Follow-up as needed

3 Introductions Jane Gray, Regional Planner/ Senior Project Manager and Facilitator, Dudek Zoë Carlson, Environmental Specialist, Dudek Fray Crease, Santa Barbara County Water A gency M anager M att Young, Santa Barbara County Water Resources Program M anager Cuyama Community Services District Patty Poire and Derek Yurosek, Representatives for the potential Cuyama Basin Water District Carolyn Berg, Senior Water Resources Engineer, Water Resources Division, San Luis Obispo County

4 Introductions Arne Anselm, Director, Water Resources Division, Ventura County Watershed Protection District Anita Regmi, PG, Engineering Geologist, California Department of Water Resources Matthew O wens, PG, Engineering Geologist, California Department of Water Resources M ike M ckenzie, California Department of Water Resources Sam Boland-Brien, Groundwater M anagement Program, State Water Resources Control Board

5 Workshop Format Facilitated Workshop and Panel Discussion. Sign in Sheet in the back. Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish. Please hold all questions/ comments until the end of the formal PowerPoint Presentation. If you have a question/ comment, please write it on the Speaker Slips provided and they will be collected.

6 Workshop Format Each public speaker will have 3 minutes to ask questions or make comments. Microphones will be provided at the front for speaker questions/ comments. All panelists will be available after conclusion of this Workshop for follow-up conversations. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE.

7 List of Acronyms SGM A = Sustainable Groundwater M anagement Act GSA = Groundwater Sustainability Agency GSP = Groundwater Sustainability Plan DWR Department of Water Resources SWRCB = State Water Resources Control Board CCSD = Cuyama Community Services District

8 What is SG M A? State law that manages water resources within groundwater basins. Emphasizes local control. Emphasizes a collaborative approach/ collaborative management. Local agencies must manage groundwater in a manner that can be maintained during the planning and implementation horizon without causing undesirable results.

9 What are undesirable results?

10 SGMA and the Cuyama Valley Groundwater Basin SGMA applies to High and Medium Priority Basins as determined by DWR. DWR has designated the Cuyama Valley Groundwater Basin as a Medium Priority Basin in a state of Critical Overdraft.

11 What Does SGM A Require to Achieve Sustainability? Formation of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA). The GSA is required to develop a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP).

12 What is Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA)? N ew public entity responsible for exercising sustainable groundwater water management within a groundwater basin or portions of a basin. GSAs must be formed by local public agencies within the basin that they have responsibility and authority over: water supply; water management; or land use.

13 What can a GSA do? Prepare a Groundwater Sustainability Plan; Fund itself and projects through fees; and Use regulatory and enforcement powers (well metering, recharge projects, pumping restrictions).

14 Groundwater Sustainability Plans GSP to meet the sustainability goal of the basin to ensure that it is operated within its sustainable yield, without causing undesirable results. Must be submitted to DWR by 2020 for critically overdrafted basins, such as Cuyama. GSP must result in sustainable conditions within 20 years (2040).

15 Groundwater Sustainability Plans GSP must include technical information regarding: Hydrogeological conditions of the aquifer Historical and projected water demands Potential areas of recharge M easureable objectives and milestones toward sustainability A monitoring and management plan Must be consistent with each County s General Plan GSP must receive DWR approval per criteria set forth by DWR.

16 Regulatory and Financial Powers of a G SA G SA s can: Require registration of wells; Require measurement of groundwater extraction; Require annual extraction reports; Impose extraction limits on individual wells; Request revisions to basin boundaries; establish new sub-basins; and Assess fees to implement local GSP s.

17 Cuyama Valley Groundwater Basin

18 Local Agencies Eligible to Form a GSA in the Cuyama Valley Cuyama Community Services District Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Kern, and Ventura Cuyama Basin Water District currently in formation process

19 Current Discussions on GSA Formation in the Cuyama Valley Eligible agencies have held 3 GSA Formation meetings since April Each agency has discussed their role on the G SA. Discussion of the needs for an advisory committee to the GSA.

20 Advisory Committee for the GSA An Advisory Committee is being formed for the GSA. The Advisory Committee will not have a vote on the GSA, but will help to inform the GSA on decisions. If interested in the Advisory Committee, please indicate interest on the Sign-In Sheet.

21 GSA Formation - Critical Dates GSA s must be formed and submit formation paperwork to DWR by June 30, If a GSA is not formed by July 1, 2017, the Basin will fall into a probationary status and SWRCB will assess fees.

22 GSA Role: Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors directed the Water Agency to participate in GSA formation. Completed groundwater study with USGS in Anticipate being a voting member on the GSA. The Water Agency will update to the Board of Supervisors on December 6.

23 GSA Role: San Luis Obispo County Jan13,20 15 County Board Direction SG M A Strategy N ov1,20 16 County Board Direction G SA Formation Feb/ M ar20 17 County Board Direction Draft G SA Agreements State Notification Process Update on SGMA Strategy Implementation County s participation on GSAs Representation Funding N ovember 1 st - County Board Live Broadcast - / bos.htm

24 GSA Role: Kern County Will be a collaborative partner in the GSA. Will have a role in the GSA as a voting member.

25 GSA Role: Ventura County Ventura County will be a collaborative partner in the G SA. Will represent all Ventura County Pumpers both in and outside of the potential Cuyama Basin Water District. Ventura County will have a role in the GSA as a voting member.

26 GSA Role: Cuyama Community Services District Will be a collaborative partner in the GSA. Will have a role in the GSA as a voting member.

27 GSA Role: Potential Cuyama Basin Water District Serve as a voting member of the G SA. Work collaboratively with the other members of the G SA. Provide some of the funding source for preparation and implementation of G SP.

28 GSA Role: Potential Cuyama Basin Water District A ssist GSA with establishment and implementation of water supply augmentation projects. Communicate with landowners within the district.

29 Role of DWR in SGM A G SA O utreach & Notification Review o Public workshop, Facilitation. o O verlap, Portion not covered by G SA. Develop Regulations o Development and adoption of GSPs regulation. o Publish Best M anagement Practices (BM P). Provide Technical and Financial Assistance o Technical support to GSA as needed. o Financial support through grant funding. Evaluate GSP and Implementation o Initial review and assessment, periodic review; every 5 years. o If GSP is not adequate to meet the sustainability goal, the basin may be designated as probationary.

30 Role of State in SG M A DWR (Regulate) State Board (Enforce) G SA (Implement)

31 Role of SW RCB in SG M A The State Backstop: Data M anager Unmanaged areas Report water use to State Board State Board collects and interprets that data Basin M anager Interim plans Directly manage groundwater resources Coordination with DWR: Communication, Outreach, Data, Implementation

32 Backstop Triggers After Intervention Trigger June 30, 2017 Jan.31, 2020 Jan. 31, 2022 Unmanaged A reas Basin in critical overdraft and either: 1) N o plan 2) Inadequat e plan 1) No plan, or 2) Basin in long-term overdraft and inadequat e plan Jan. 31, 2025 Significant depletions of interconnected surface waters and inadequate plan In all triggering events, intervention is the result of failure by locals to create a GSA or adopt and implement a G SP.

33 Progression of State Backstop Repor t ing Probat ionar y Interim Plan Unmanaged Areas AND Probat ionar y A reas Local opportunity to fix issues, Board will gat her dat a Board will develop and implement corrective actions All of these activities will result in costs the State Water Board must recover through fees.

34 Proposed SWRCB Fee Schedule 1. Base Filing Fee $10 0 2a. Unmanaged Area Rate $10/$25 2b. Probationary Basin Rate $40 2c. Interim Plan Rate $55 3. Special Studies Fee TBD 4. Late Fee 25% per month These fees do not apply if locals form a GSA, adopt a GSP, and implement the GSP.

35 Finishing thoughts Repor t ing Intervention only occurs where local efforts fail. Probat ionar y Interim Plan Fees Local opportunities to remedy causes of intervention triggers. Board will enforce where necessary and appropriate.

36 Opportunities for Engagement All interested parties are encouraged to sign up for the list. Please indicate your interest in the GSA Advisory Committee. Applications will be taken for seats on the GSA Advisory Committee after the GSA is formed.

37 Opportunities for Engagement Dudek will be sending regular updates on the GSA Formation discussions. Please stay after the meeting to talk. Please contact the representatives here this evening see handout with contact info and websites.

38 Thank You! Thank you very much for your time and attention and for taking time to take an active role in your community and your local water resources. We will now open the workshop to public comment and questions.

39 Public Comment/ Q uestions Please hold your speaker slips in the air for collection. Please wait until your name is called. Please keep your comment/ question to 3 minutes. Thank you!