From the Department of Water Resources, Sustainable Groundwater Management Office:
NEW: Submitting Your Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSP) to the Department of Water Resources (DWR)
If you have questions or need assistance while submitting your 2022 GSP, Alternative Periodic Evaluation (5-year) Plan Update, or update to a previously submitted 2020 GSP, please contact us at GSPSubmittal@water.ca.gov. We have additional staff monitoring this account to provide prompt responses and help with document submittal to DWR’s SGMA Portal.
As a reminder, DWR hosted a week of webinars on statewide groundwater management efforts in October 2021, including GSP and Alternative Periodic Evaluation (5-Year) Plan Update submittals. Those webinar recordings can be found at the following websites:
- 2022 Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Submittal Workshop: This webinar walked attendees through the submission process for the GSP Reporting System and Monitoring Network Module in the SGMA Portal.Find this recording under the ‘GSP Submittal’ tab and the ‘Resources and Guidance’ accordion dropdown.
- 2022 Alternative Periodic Evaluation Submittal Workshop: This webinar walked attendees through the submission process for the Alternative Periodic Evaluation (5-year) Plan Updates in the Alternative Module of the SGMA Portal. Find this recording under the ‘Submitting an Alternative’ section header on the main page.
For more information, visit the pages linked above, the SGMA Portal – Resources page, or contact: GSPSubmittal@water.ca.gov.
NEW: 2022 Groundwater Sustainability Plan Currently Available for Public Comment
A groundwater sustainability plan that has been submitted to the state is now online at the DWR SGMA Portal. The plan is open to public comment for 75 days after posted online. Below in the table is a link to the submitted plan, the counties it covers, and details about the public comment period for that plan.
Information regarding how to comment on a plan can be found in a fact sheet in both English and Spanish. Public comments are welcomed and encouraged. A SGMA Portal account is not necessary to submit comments.
|
Basin |
Local ID (if applicable) |
Counties Covered |
Public Comment Period End |
|
N/A |
Riverside |
2/20/2022 |
DWR anticipates more plans being submitted to the Portal in the coming weeks to meet the January 31, 2022 deadline. For questions or more information, email sgmps@water.ca.gov.
NEW: Update Your Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) Point of Contact (POC) Information in DWR’s SGMA Portal
The 2022 deadline for GSPs is January 31, 2022. If your GSA POC is not current, or you are not sure, please visit the SGMA Portal to ensure that your contact information is up-to-date. When logged in, the Portal allows edits to be made to previously submitted contact information.
If you have SGMA Portal questions, please email them to: GSPSubmittal@water.ca.gov.
NEW: Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Data Submission Reminder
California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM) Program Monitoring Entities (MEs) and GSAs are required to collect groundwater elevation measurements from their monitoring networks and submit the information to DWR. Please be sure to submit all monitoring data for 2021 to the CASGEM Online System or the SGMA Portal’s Monitoring Network Module (MNM).
As a reminder, following the submittal of a GSP to the DWR, CASGEM MEs are no longer required to report seasonal groundwater elevation readings to the CASGEM Online System, instead GSAs will be responsible for submitting groundwater elevations to the MNM. Please note that CASGEM MEs may continue to voluntarily upload data into the CASGEM Online System from wells not included in a GSP.
For additional information or questions regarding the submittal of groundwater data to CASGEM, please contact us at CASGEM@water.ca.gov or at GSPSubmittal@water.ca.gov regarding information or questions pertaining to the MNM.
NEW: Information on Transition to SGMA Portal’s Monitoring Network Module
GSAs submitting GSPs must upload all monitoring sites to the SGMA Portal’s MNM prior to the GSP submittal due date. Wells currently in the CASGEM Online System can be migrated directly to the MNM, while new wells will need to be added to the MNM manually or through a batch upload. Please review the CASGEM to MNM Transition FAQ or GSP Reporting System and MNM User Manual for information and guidance regarding the transition.
For additional information or questions about migrating wells from CASGEM to the MNM or uploading monitoring sites to the MNM, please contact us at GSPSubmittal@water.ca.gov.
UPCOMING TRE ALTAMIRA InSAR Subsidence Dataset Update Releasing Soon
The TRE ALTAMIRA InSAR Subsidence Dataset is being updated with data through October 2021, with a planned release date in February 2022. The extended dataset, updated GIS services, and related report will be available on the SGMA Data Viewer and CNRA Open Data Platform.
For questions or more information, email sgmps@water.ca.gov.
2021 Year End Review of DWR Sustainable Groundwater Management Activities
Outreach, Communication, and Engagement
DWR is committed to providing guidance and support as GSAs and interested parties work together to implement SGMA and work toward achieving groundwater sustainability goals. Regional Coordinators and staff in DWR’s four regions (also known as Points of Contact or POCs) provide information and help GSAs and interested parties connect with DWR and locate resources, including guidance on communication and engagement and assistance services such as technical support, facilitation support, written translation, and financial assistance.
In 2021, along with the ongoing Regional Coordinator and POC assistance summarized above, DWR provided the following resources to assist GSAs and interested parties with outreach, communication, and engagement activities:
- Joint DWR-State Water Board General SGMA Webinar on Groundwater Sustainability Planning (February)
- Communication and Engagement Toolkit Items Released for Groundwater Awareness Week (March)
- Multi-Language Groundwater Educational Materials Available (April)
- Week of Webinars on Statewide Groundwater Management Efforts (October)
- Resources for Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Implementation: This webinar covered resources for SGMA implementation, including the GSA Communication & Engagement Toolkit materials and future funding opportunities. Find this recording under the ‘Communication and Engagement’ tab and the ‘Sustainable Groundwater Management Program Events’ accordion dropdown.
For more information about DWR’s Groundwater Outreach, Communication and Engagement activities, visit the Assistance and Engagement website and for general inquiries, please contact: sgmps@water.ca.gov.
Technical Assistance, Data and Tools
DWR has a long history of data collection, monitoring, and reporting. With the passage of the SGMA, there is an increased need for local and state agencies and the public to easily access water data in order to make informed management decisions.
In 2021, DWR provided a vast array of new and updated data and tools, and technical assistance to GSAs throughout the State:
- Available Datasets: SGMA Water Year Type (January), 2018 Statewide Crop Mapping Data (March), TRE ALTAMIRA InSAR Subsidence Update (June), Statewide Parcel GIS Data Service made available (September)
- Monitoring Network Module Updated to Accept Sustainable Management Criteria Data, CASGEM Reporting ends for GSAs with Submitted GSPs (February)
- CalGW Update 2020 (B-118): Draft Release and Public Webinar (March), Final Release (November)
- California Groundwater Conditions Update – Spring 2020 (April), California Groundwater Conditions Update – Spring 2021 report and accompanying maps (October)
- Update to Fine-Grid California Central Valley Groundwater-Surface Water Simulation Model (C2VSimFG Version 1.01) released (April)
- Dry well reporting system data access and system enhancements (July)
- Launch of CalGW Live Online Interactive Tool (November)
- AEM Statewide Surveys: Pilot Study data available (February), Educational Video and Public Webinar (June), First AEM Surveys Complete (September)
The relevant October 2021 Week of Webinar recording can be found at the following website:
- Accessing Groundwater Data and Tools: This webinar demonstrated new and updated groundwater data and tools, including DWR’s new California’s Groundwater Live and updated SGMA Data Viewer. Find this recording under the ‘Resources’ section header on the main page.
For more information about DWR’s Groundwater Technical Assistance, Data and Tools, visit the Data and Tools website and for general inquiries, please contact: sgmps@water.ca.gov.
GSP Reviews and Department Determinations
SGMA requires local agencies to form GSAs for California’s high-and medium-priority groundwater basins. GSAs develop and implement GSPs to avoid undesirable results and mitigate overdraft within 20 years. One of DWR’s roles to support local SGMA implementation is to perform regulatory oversight through the evaluation and assessment of GSPs and Alternatives to GSPs.
In 2021, DWR reviewed and released early assessments on the first GSPs and received and reviewed Annual Reports in compliance with SGMA:
- Annual Reports Due for GSPs, Alternatives to a GSP, and Adjudicated Areas (April)
- DWR GSP Assessment Releases: First Round Release, Live Q&A, and Interview with Steven Springhorn (June)
- Second Round GSP Assessment Release (November)
- Release of additional communication to agencies on the status of their GSPs and upcoming assessments (December)
For more information about DWR’s Evaluations and Assessments, visit the SGMA Portal and the GSP, GSA, and Alternatives to GSPs websites and for general inquiries, please contact: sgmps@water.ca.gov.
Drought Assistance
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the April 21, 2021 State of Emergency Proclamation after two dry years to prioritize the protection of public health, safety and the environment, and to prepare for and mitigate the effects of drought conditions. Executive Order Action 5a states: “…the Department of Water Resources shall work with counties to encourage reporting of household water shortages, such as dry residential wells, on the website the Department maintains for that purpose, to enable tracking of drought impacts” and Executive Order Action 11 specifically identifies: “To ensure the potential impacts of drought on communities are anticipated and proactively addressed, the Department of Water Resources, in coordination with the Water Board, shall develop groundwater management principles and strategies to monitor, analyze, and minimize impacts to drinking water wells.”
In response to the Governor’s April 2021 Executive Order, DWR led the following actions:
- Development and launch of the Household Water Supply Shortage Reporting System (MyDryWaterSupply website launch, January), Website Updates and Expanded Resources as MyDryWell (July)
- Development and release of the Drinking Water Wells Principles and Strategies: June Listening Sessions, Draft Concepts Public Workshop (July), Draft Release and Public Comment Webinar (September), and Final Release (December)
If you are currently experiencing a household water shortage or your well has gone dry, please report your water supply shortage in a few easy steps and find available resources on the State’s MyDryWell website.
For more information on the Drinking Water Principles and Strategies effort, visit the Drinking Water Wells Principles website and for general inquiries, please contact: sgmps@water.ca.gov.
SGMA Implementation Assistance
The Sustainable Groundwater Management (SGM) Grant Program provides financial assistance for planning and implementation efforts related to advancing the goals of SGMA.
In 2021, the following financial assistance opportunities were provided to support sustainable groundwater management:
- SGM Implementation Grants Awarded (April)
- DWR Survey for Basin Funding Needs (July)
- SGMA Implementation – Planning and Projects Funding: Draft Guidelines and Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP) (October) and Final Guidelines and PSP (December)
For more information on the SGM Grant Program, visit the SGM Grant Program website or you can email the team at sgwp@water.ca.gov.
REMINDER Written Translation Services Available
DWR’s written translation service is available to help with communication to non-English speaking constituents. Translation services for materials are available in Chinese, Hmong, Korean, Laotian, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Applicants can submit written translation requests for up to 5,000 words per basin/subbasin.
For details, visit the Written Translation tab on the Assistance and Engagement webpage.
REMINDER Facilitation Support Services Available
DWR’s facilitation support service is available to help local agencies work through challenging water management situations. This service provides the help of professional facilitators to foster discussions among diverse water management interests and local agencies when developing and implementing GSPs.
For details, visit the Facilitation Support tab on the Assistance and Engagement webpage.
REMINDER Groundwater Exchange Shares Information and Resources
Maven’s Notebook’s Groundwater Exchange is a central, collaborative, and publicly accessible online resource center connecting water managers, water users, and community members with tools and resources to support the development and implementation of GSPs. While not a DWR website, DWR representatives have been on the Exchange’s Advisory Board since its inception as it supports the sharing of information and resources for SGMA implementation.
Connect with Your Basin Point of Contact
DWR has designated basin points of contact to assist local agencies as they develop and implement their plans and to assist with applications for Technical Support Services and Facilitation Support Services.
For regional inquiries, contact sgmp_rc@water.ca.gov.
For general inquiries, contact sgmps@water.ca.gov.
