From the Department of Water Resources, Sustainable Groundwater Management Program
Webinar for NEW GSP Initial Notification System
Join the Department of Water Resources for a webinar on how to use the new Groundwater Sustainability Plan Initial Notification System.
January 19, 2018 from Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Please access the webinar here .
The link will go live approximately 15 minutes before the start of the webinar.
No registration is necessary.
The new GSP Initial Notification System was created for GSAs to use when submitting their intent to develop a GSP in accordance with the GSP regulations (California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Section 353.6). GSAs will be required to use the system when submitting future notifications. Existing notifications that have been provided to DWR and posted on our website ( http://water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/gsp_in.cfm ) will be transferred to this new system. DWR will be contacting and assisting GSAs with the transfer process.
For more information on GSP Initial Notification, including Frequently Asked Questions , visit the Groundwater Sustainability Plan Initial Notification webpage.
Contacts: Lauren Hersh| Lauren.Hersh@water.ca.gov | (916) 653-2639
Steven Springhorn | Steven.Springhorn@water.ca.gov | (916) 651-9273
Basin Boundary Modifications Requests Open for Submission
SGMA established a process for local agencies to request DWR to review and revise boundaries of existing groundwater basins or subbasins, including establishing new subbasins. GSAs and local agencies are encouraged to reach out to DWR for assistance with this process. All information to support a boundary modification should be submitted to the Basin Boundary Modification Request System (BBMRS) .
The 2018 Basin Boundary Modification Schedule:
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- January 1, 2018 : Submission Period opens for 6 months. During this window, GSAs and local agencies can submit the required information to support a Basin Boundary Modification on the SGMA Portal http://sgma.water.ca.gov/portal/#intro .
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- June 30, 2018: Submission Period Closes and all information to support a boundary modification should be submitted to the BBMRS
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- July 30, 2018: BBMRS Public Comment Period Closes – DWR begins review of boundary modification requests and public comments
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- Fall 2018: Draft Basin Boundary Modifications Released
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- Fall/Winter 2018 – Final Basin Boundary Modifications Released
For more information on basin boundary modifications, including the Basin Boundary Assessment Tool and the Basin Boundary Modification Request System, please visit: http://www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/basin_boundaries.cfm .
Contact: Dane Mathis| Dane.Mathis@water.ca.gov | (559) 230-3354
Sustainable Management Criteria BMP and Public Comments Available Online
The newest Best Management Practices publication, Sustainable Management Criteria (SMC) , public meeting presentation and public meeting webcast are available online.Public comments submitted by the January 8, 2018 deadline are also posted and are being considered as staff drafts the final version of the BMP.
The SMC BMP characterizes the relationship between the different sustainable management criteria – the sustainability goal, undesirable results, minimum thresholds, and measurable objectives – and describes best management practices for developing these criteria as part of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). This BMP does not impose new requirements, but describes best management practices for satisfying the requirements of SGMA and the GSP Regulations.
Contact : Lauren Hersh| Lauren.Hersh@water.ca.gov | (916) 653-2639
Who’s Your Basin Contact?
To assist GSAs and stakeholders in GSP development, DWR has assigned a Point of Contact (POC) for each high and medium priority basin that is subject to SGMA. The POC serves as the basin liaison to connect GSAs with DWR staff. The POC can assist GSAs in locating DWR’s program information (BMPs, guidance documents, data and tools), and identify and obtain available assistance. Think of your POC as your go-to person – and find them on the Communications and Outreach page of DWR’s website.
Facilitation Support Services
Professional facilitators are sometimes needed to help foster discussions among diverse water management interests and local agencies as they strive to implement the SGMA. DWR is currently focusing its available Facilitation Support Services (FSS) resources on supporting the development of GSPs. Under the requirements of SGMA, all beneficial uses and users of groundwater must be considered in the development of GSPs, and GSAs must encourage the active involvement of diverse social, cultural, and economic elements of the population.
The goal of the FSS related to GSP development is to assist GSAs in reaching consensus on potentially contentious water management topics arising from the diverse beneficial uses and users of groundwater. Priorities of this funding are given to the critically overdrafted basins.
GSAs developing GSPs, or other groups coordinating with the GSAs in developing GSPs, are eligible to apply for FSS if they meet all the following obligations:
- Agree to work in an open, inclusive, and collaborative manner toward the development of a GSP.
- Support an inclusive process that seeks, promotes, encourages, and welcomes the involvement of all interested parties.
- Commit to meet regularly and work diligently toward a clear and defined goal.
- Commit to providing a meeting space that is suitably located and sized.
Applications for FSS will be evaluated on a continuous basis as funding allows. Applications must be submitted through the online application system . A map of the basins with DWR funded facilitation is also available on the FSS webpage . A list of questions is also provided as a resource to help applicants prepare for the online application.
Contact: Simarjit Dhanota | Simarjit.Dhanota@water.ca.gov | (916) 651-0889
Data, Tools, and Reports
From datasets to groundwater – surface water models, DWR is providing technical assistance to help GSAs develop GSPs, and implement the SGMA requirements. The SGMA Technical Assistance Factsheet enables users to find links to technical resources, available on DWR’s SGMA Program – Data, Tools, and Reports webpage including:
- 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.
The California DWR Land Use Viewer , allows GSAs and the public to easily access both statewide (as recent as 2014 crop data) and existing county land use datasets that have been collected over the last 30 years. The Viewer also includes a variety of tools that will allow users to download and analyze land use data. You may want to access the webinar on YouTube for a demonstration of how to use the Viewer.
- Modeling: 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 FAQs on DWR’s Integrated Hydrologic Models and Water Budget Pilot Projects and Integrated Hydrologic Modeling and Water Budgets pertaining to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and Groundwater Sustainability Plan Regulations
- Climate Change: 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). 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
Visit our Data, Tools, and Reports webpage for additional information on DWR’s SGMA related Data, Tools, and Reports.
Contacts:
Land Use Viewer, Wyatt Arnold | Wyatt.Arnold@water.ca.gov
Well Completion Report Viewer, Ben Brezing | Benjamin.Brezing@water.ca.gov
Technical Assistance, Steven Springhorn | (916) 651-9273 | Steven.Springhorn@water.ca.gov
Upcoming Events
American Groundwater Trust & Association of Groundwater Agencies Annual Conference
“Everything Aquifers and Groundwater Management”
February 12, 2018 – February 13, 2018, Ontario, CA
Gateway Hotel, 2200 East Holt Boulevard, Ontario, California 91761
This annual event provides a stimulating information exchange and networking opportunity for California’s water agencies, utilities and water districts, and for all water professionals (scientific, engineering, managerial, legal, environmental, regulatory), end-users of water, and local and state elected officials involved with water policy issues.
See website for field visit opportunity to Cadiz Water project
Or contact American Groundwater Trust (603) 228-5444
16th Biennial Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge
Recharge to the Rescue!
The Sixteenth Biennial Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge, Recharge to the Rescue!, Managed Aquifer Recharge as a Water Management Tool, will take place at on March 6-7, 2018 in San Diego, CA. This event continues a long-standing series of symposia originating in Arizona in 1978.
BSMAR 16 will feature oral presentations, poster presentations, an awards luncheon as well as optional pre- and post-conference workshops and an optional field trip to the Carlsbad Desalination Plant.
More Information and Registration
Questions? Contact:
Technical – Adam Hutchinson at ahutchinson@ocwd.com or (714) 378-3214
Administrative – Sarah Kline at skline@grac.org or (916) 446-3626
Click here to view all posted announcements.
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