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TO: Board of Directors, Lake County Watershed Protection District
FROM: Scott De Leon, Interim Water Resources Director
DATE: August 13, 2019
SUBJECT: Continued from August 6, 2019 - (Sitting as Lake County Watershed Protection District, Board of Directors) Adopt Resolution to Form the Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
In 2014, the state of California adopted the Groundwater Sustainability Act (SGMA), which requires local agencies with medium or high priority basins to develop a Groundwater Sustainability plan or an Alternative Groundwater Sustainability Plan in an effort to ensure that groundwater basins reach sustainability within 20 years of implementing a groundwater basin sustainability plan. SGMA provides local agencies a framework for managing groundwater basins in a sustainable manner and recognizes groundwater is most effectively managed at the local level.
The Lake County Watershed Protection Districted (District) elected to prepare an Alternative Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Big Valley groundwater basin which was submitted to the State on December 30, 2016. Local agencies who submitted an Alternative plan are required to provide an Annual Report to the state to demonstrate the progress toward implementation of the Alternative or maintenance of groundwater conditions described in the submitted Alternative plan. The Lake County Watershed Protection District has submitted two (2) Annual Reports; the Annual Report for the Big Valley Groundwater Basin Water Year 2017, and the Annual Report for the Big Valley Groundwater Basin Water Year 2018.
In July 2019, the Lake County Watershed Protection District was notified by the California Department of Water Resources (CDWR) that the Big Valley Groundwater Basin Alternative Sustainability Plan had not been accepted. In order to maintain local and sustainable management of the Big Valley groundwater basin, it is in the best interest for the County that the Board of Directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District approve the resolution authorizing the District to form the Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA). The formation of a GSA complies with State regulations and is necessary to obtain funding for the development of a Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Plan.
Water Code Sec. 10723.2 requires that a GSA considers the interests of all beneficial uses and users of groundwater. Senate Bill No. 1136 mandates the Lake County Watershed Protection has the legal responsibility and obligation to protect waters within the District, including both surface water and groundwater. However, to insure all interested are considered, the Big Valley GSA will work with regional stakeholders through a GSA Advisory Group that will include representation from the County, Tribal Government, Municipal Water Supplier, the Chi Council, Domestic well owners, and Agricultural users.
FISCAL IMPACT: __X__ None ____ Budgeted ____ Non-Budgeted
Estimated Cost:
Amount Budgeted:
Additional Requested:
Annual Cost (if planned for future years):
FISCAL IMPACT (Narrative): While State grant funds are available for the development of Groundwater Sustainability Plans, only those entities that are a GSA are eligible for funding.
STAFFING IMPACT (if applicable): None
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt the Resolution electing to form the Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency.