WHY DO WE NEED TO MANAGE GROUNDWATER NOW? S O N O M A V A L L E Y G R O U N D W A T E R S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y A G E N C Y Jay Jasperse, Plan Manager sonomacountygroundwater.org
Groundwater and the Drought • California one of last western states to manage groundwater • During the drought, some Central Valley communities ran out of water • Land subsidence (sinking) from too much groundwater pumping • Sonoma County wants to avoid these problems! Photo from Associated Press sonomacountygroundwater.org
What’s going on in Sonoma Valley? • Not the Central Valley, but not perfect either • 2006 USGS study identified some issues of groundwater levels and quality • Voluntary management plan adopted in 2007 • As much as 60% of our water supply comes from groundwater • The basin is required by the state to manage these issues sonomacountygroundwater.org
What’s going on in Sonoma Valley? • Several areas in Sonoma Valley have shown decreasing groundwater levels over the past several decades. sonomacountygroundwater.org
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Step three Step one Step two Achieve Form Groundwater Develop Groundwater Sustainability Sustainability Sustainability Plan 20 years after Agency January 31, 2022 adoption of plan* June 30, 2017 sonomacountygroundwater.org
No GSA means State Intervention • If local agencies do not meet SGMA’s requirements, the State will step in. • The Sonoma Valley GSA was created so that we can manage our groundwater locally . • If the state intervenes, it will be more expensive and less tailored to local needs. Eventually, local money will be spent on developing a Sonoma Valley groundwater sustainability plan. sonomacountygroundwater.org
No GSA means State Intervention FEES beginning in Water Year 2018 State-Based Intervention Base Late Volumetric + + Fees (these fees Filing Fee Fee Rate (per well) (per month) (per acre-foot) are in addition to the costs of Unmanaged 25 % $ 300 $ 25 preparing the Probation GSP!) $ 40 * InterimPlan $ 55 * *special studies extra sonomacountygroundwater.org
Why does the GSA need new funding? Total Initial FY • The first year of the GSA Member Agency 2017-18 was funded by its member Commitment agencies Sonoma Resource Conservation District $20,000 • These agencies will fund North Bay Water District $20,000 one more year City of Sonoma $ 97,767 • Expect GSA to have its own funding source after two Valley of the Moon Water District $ 97,767 years of operations County of Sonoma $117,233 Sonoma County Water Agency $117,233 sonomacountygroundwater.org
Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Requirements • Describe the basin conditions, using a hydrologic conceptual model • Describe the basin-specific monitoring network • Establish numerical thresholds and measurable objectives to avoid undesirable results: • Identify projects and actions needed to achieve or maintain sustainable conditions within 20 years • Robust stakeholder outreach is required …AND, must be completed by January 31, 2022 sonomacountygroundwater.org
sonomacountygroundwater.org
GSP development: How to Get Involved • Go to sonomacountygroundwater.org for information on the plan and to sign up for Monthly Email Updates • Come to Board and Advisory Committee meetings sonomacountygroundwater.org
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