From the Department of Water Resources, Sustainable Groundwater Management Program:
Basin Boundary Modification
OPEN NOW – Required Initial Notification period. Local agencies intending to submit a Basin Boundary modification request are required to submit an “Initial Notification” of their intent within 15 days of a local agency’s decision to explore basin modification. Initial Notifications can be submitted and viewed at http://sgma.water.ca.gov/basinmod/
Tentative Schedule
- January 1, 2018 – Submission Period Opens
During this 3 month window, GSAs and local agencies can submit the required information to support a Basin Boundary Modification in the BBMRS on the SGMA Portal http://sgma.water.ca.gov/portal/#intro .
- March 31, 2018 – Submission Period Closes and 30-day Public Comment Period Opens
All information to support a boundary modification should be submitted to the BBMRS
- April 30, 2018 – Public Comment Period Closes
DWR begins boundary modification requests and public comments
- Approximately July 2018 – Draft Basin Boundary Modifications Released
- Approximately August 2018 – Final Basin Boundary Modifications Released
Pursuant to SGMA, DWR developed regulations for a process to modify Bulletin 118 groundwater basin boundaries. In November 2016, DWR reviewed the requests and finalized the boundary modifications, which are posted on the Basin Modification Boundary web page at http://water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/basin_boundaries.cfm .
Contact: Tim Godwin | Timothy.Godwin@water.ca.gov | (916) 651-9223
Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) Formation
More than 99 percent of California’s medium and high priority groundwater basins are in compliance with the first phase of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The SGMA requires that the state’s 127 high and medium priority groundwater basins be managed by a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), groundwater adjudications, or alternative sustainability plans by June 30, 2017. Portions of basins not covered by a GSA, adjudication, or alternative plans are considered unmanaged areas and will be required to report any significant pumping to the State Water Resources Control Board. As of July 1, 2017, groundwater basins without complete GSA coverage will be subject to State Water Resources Control Board intervention .
All GSA notifications can be submitted, viewed, and managed within DWR’s SGMA Portal . Visit the State Water Resources Control Board’s Unmanaged Area Identification Map .
Contact: Mark Nordberg | Mark.Nordberg@water.ca.gov | (916) 651-9673
Draft Guidance Documents for Engagement and Communication
DWR is inviting public comments on two draft guidance documents, Guidance Document for Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Stakeholder Communication and Engagement (C&E) and Engagement with Tribal Governments . The C&E document offers guidance on communication with stakeholders for GSP development through a transparent and inclusive process. The Engagement with Tribal Governments document is intended to help local agencies engage with Tribal Governments in the planning, financing and management of a GSA, or with the development and implementation of a GSP. The deadline for submitting public comments is
5:00 P.M., Monday, August 28, 2017.
Please send your comments:
By email to: sgmps@water.ca.gov Subject: Comments to Guidance Documents
OR
By U.S. Postal Service to:
CA Department of Water Resources
P.O. Box 942836
Sacramento, California 94236-0001
Attn: Lauren Hersh, Rm 201
Technical Assistance
Providing technical assistance to water managers and GSAs is crucial in enabling successful management of groundwater basins. DWR is providing local agencies and GSAs with technical assistance which includes data and tools at both the regional and statewide level to support Groundwater Sustainability Plan development and implementation. Visit DWR’s SGM Program – Data, Tools, and Reports webpage for more access to:
- Statewide Data Platforms
- Best Management Practices and Guidance Documents
- Interactive Maps – Groundwater Information Center Interactive Map & Water Management Planning Tool
- Modeling – Code and Applications
- Reports – Bulletin 118 and Bulletin 160
- Water Data Library and more
Contact: Steven Springhorn | Steven.Springhorn@water.ca.gov | (916) 651-9273
Upcoming Events
~ Principles of Groundwater Flow and Transport Modeling ~
This is an introductory course offered by the Groundwater Resources Association that reviews the concepts of groundwater flow and transport, and of finite difference and finite element methods. It also provides an overview of various software programs for groundwater flow and transport modeling.
Monday, September 11 – Wednesday, September 13, 2017
8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Seaport Conference Center
459 Seaport Court
Redwood City, California 94064
More Information and Registration
~ Save the Date: SGMA Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Central Valley Workshop ~
This free workshop hosted by the California Department of Water Resources will provide Groundwater Sustainability Agencies and interested parties with an update on SGMA implementation and an open forum to discuss Groundwater Sustainability Plan development. Additional details will be provided soon. The workshop is open to GSAs statewide and the public.
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Clovis Veterans Memorial District
808 Fourth Street
Clovis, California 93612
Look for more information soon!
SGMA Definitions and Groundwater Glossary
SGMA provided California with a roadmap for sustainably managing our groundwater, and it also came with its own lexicon. Looking for the definition of “Undesirable result” or “De minimis extractor”? It’s right here. Additional important groundwater terms and definitions are included in the Groundwater Information Center’s Groundwater Glossary .
DID YOU KNOW?
DWR estimates there are one to two million water wells in California, they range from shallow hand dug wells to carefully designed large production wells. Find more information about California Well Standards, Completion Reports, and more at http://water.ca.gov/groundwater/wells/index.cfm
Click here to view all posted announcements.
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