From DWR’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Program:
DWR Releases New Tool and Statewide Land Use Data to Support SGMA Implementation
The California DWR Land Use Viewer is an exciting new tool developed and just released by DWR that allows Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and the public to easily access both valuable statewide and existing regional land use data in one place for the very first time. The Land Use Viewer integrates data from DWR into a common, well organized, and accessible format that will benefit GSAs as they develop their GSPs including requirements to provide descriptions of existing land use designations and quantifying the historical, current, and projected water budget for groundwater basins. A fact sheet is posted on the DWR website.
DWR held a webinar on September 29th, demonstrating the Land Use Viewer. That presentation will be posted to the DWR website in the days ahead.
How DWR will use this Data
For many years, DWR has collected land use data throughout the State and uses this information to develop water use estimates for statewide and regional planning efforts, including water use projections, water use efficiency evaluation, groundwater model development, and water transfers. With the passage of SGMA, DWR will use the existing county and newly developed statewide land use information to review GSPs and enhance DWR’s groundwater models that will be made available for GSAs to use, if they choose, for GSP development.
Visit http://water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/data_tools_reports.cfm for additional information on DWR’s SGMA related Data, Tools, and Reports.
Contacts:
Land Use Viewer, Wyatt Arnold | Wyatt.Arnold@water.ca.gov
Land Use Program, Simon Eching | Simon.Eching@water.ca.gov
Technical assistance, Steven Springhorn | Steven.Springhorn@water.ca.gov
Central Valley GSP Workshop
DWR hosted a GSP workshop in Clovis on September 20, 2017. We have posted the presentation on the DWR website which includes the overview of the Program, GSA formation status, assistance and engagement, as well as guidance, data and tools.
Contact: Hong Lin| Hong.Lin@water.ca.gov | (916) 651-9273
Technical Assistance
DWR provides local agencies and GSAs with technical assistance which includes data, tools, and reports 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 access to:
- Statewide Data Platforms
- Interactive Maps
New – The Well Completion Report Map Application provides access to statewide Well Completion Reports. Well Completion Reports contain information collected by drillers during the drilling and construction of water wells, including the location, dates of construction, planned use, depth of the well, subsurface geologic units encountered, well construction, and well yield.
Modeling
New – DWR provides a number of existing integrated hydrologic modeling codes and applications available for use. A summary of these resources is available in the Modeling Tools Fact Sheet, along with frequently asked questions on DWR’s Integrated Hydrologic Models and Water Budget Pilot Projects.
Climate Change
New – DWR is providing data, tools, and guidance to assist GSAs with incorporating climate change into their GSPs. This effort leverages previous work done by DWR for the Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP). The anticipated release of this information is later in Fall 2017. Please refer to the Climate Change Fact Sheet for more information about what will be provided
- Reports – Best Management Practices, Guidance Documents, Bulletin 118, and Bulletin 160
Contact: Steven Springhorn | Steven.Springhorn@water.ca.gov | (916) 651-927
Sustainable Groundwater Planning Grant Funding Available
Filing Period Closes November 13, 2017
The SGWP Grant Program provides funds for projects that develop and implement sustainable groundwater planning and projects consistent with groundwater planning requirements outlined in Division 6 of the California Water Code, commencing at §10000.
The final 2017 Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSP) and Projects Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP) for the Sustainable Groundwater Planning (SGWP) Grant Program, funded by the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (Proposition 1) makes available a total of $86.3 million, with at least $10 million made available to projects that serve Severely Disadvantaged Communities and the remaining amount for planning, development, or preparation of Groundwater Sustainability Plans. Eligible projects must address high and medium priority basins as identified in DWR Bulletin 118 or a non-adjudicated portion of one of these basins. Please note that Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) are required to notify DWR and the public prior to initiating development of a GSP (in compliance with California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Section 350 et seq. and Water Code section 10727.8).
For more information regarding the final PSP, public comments received on the draft document, as well as other information about the SGWP Grant Program, visit: http://www.water.ca.gov/irwm/grants/sgwp/
The release of the final PSP initiates the open filing period for Phase 1 of this solicitation. The application is available online through the Grants Review and Tracking System (GRanTS). The deadline to file for grant funding is November 13, 2017.
A list of Frequently Asked Questions is also posted on the DWR website.
Contact:
Sustainable Groundwater Planning Grant Program
901 P Street
P.O. Box 942836
Sacramento, CA 94236-0001
SGWP@water.ca.gov
916.651.9613 (office)
GSA Guidance Documents
Thank you to all who provided comments to DWR on the draft versions of the Communications & Engagement Guidance document and the Tribal Engagement Guide. Your insights and recommendations are much appreciated, and are being carefully considered as we seek to make these publications more useful to Groundwater Sustainability Agencies. We expect to have the final versions available in the near future.
Upcoming Events
Public Forum: Managed Groundwater Recharge to
Support Sustainable Water Management
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Sacramento Convention Center, Rooms 202 and 203,
1400 J Street, Sacramento, CA
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in collaboration with DWR and other state entities, is hosting a Public Forum on Managed Groundwater Recharge to Support Sustainable Water Management. The goal of this forum is to bring together water authorities, agricultural organizations, regulators, and other stakeholders to address groundwater recharge opportunities and associated policies.
Register at https://secure.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/groundwater/
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.
Click here to view all posted announcements.
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