Greater Kaweah GSA Combined RCC & SC Meeting - - PDF document

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Greater Kaweah GSA Combined RCC & SC Meeting

Wednesday, May 16, 2019

www.GreaterKaweahGSA.org

ITEM 2: MINUTES

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ITEM 3: Summary of Kaweah Coordination

• Subbasin Basin Setting Components Report

– GEI responded to comments at May 6th TAC meeting.

• Numerical Model

– Initial baseline model runs underway and scheduled for completion end of this week. – Management Actions only model run next, followed by Management Actions and Projects

• Draft Coordination Agreement discussions are ongoing. Managers have

agreed to make the Agreement available for review with draft GSPs.

• Water Budget components have been applied to Water Supply Accounting

Framework that has been agreed upon at the Subbasin-level.

– To be included in each GSA’s GSP

ITEM 3: Summary of Kaweah Coordination

• The Kaweah Subbasin was approved for TSS funding to provide

additional, SGMA-compliant monitoring wells.

– In February, the GSAs were notified that DWR was still working with its drilling contractor to develop the schedule and negotiating on the costs to be able to complete as many wells as possible in this first round of funding. – As of last week, the draft language for the Agreement was provided to the GSAs for their review.

• DWR will provide the Agreement documents, completed with information provided

in the TSS application in the coming weeks.

– DWR is also asking each basin to prioritize the order of wells to be drilled, in case there is not sufficient funding to complete all wells in the basin.

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ITEM 3: Summary of Kaweah Coordination

• DMS was to be made available for Admin Review last month but

delivery has not yet occurred

• Discussion surrounding coordinated approaches to measurement
• ngoing
• TID/MKGSA/GKGSA have provided DWR with a proposal regarding

tech funding for a pilot study

• SkyTEM project completion report delivered to GSA managers

– Very large document, currently under review but will be made available soon – Presentation by AGF provided to Mgmt Team Committee May 15th

1) Develop a 3D hydrogeological framework to assist in water resources management. 2) Produce maps of aquifer materials along the flight lines 3) Locate potential Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) areas along the flight lines 4) Provide information to identify optimal drilling locations for production, monitoring, and test wells

ITEM 3: SkyTEM Investigation Objectives

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Generator Generator

Usually 2-3 Flights/day Totaling about 180-250 line-miles/day

• Approx. 100’ – 150’ above ground

Along-Line Data Density Approximately Every ~ 10 ft

ITEM 3: SkyTEM Helicopter AEM Operation

Abraham et al., 2016

ITEM 3: SkyTEM In Field QA/QC

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SkyTEM: Kaweah As Flown Flight Lines

Blue dots- 440 Borehole with lithology only Yellow dots-52 Borehole with lithology and geophysical log

SkyTEM: Boreholes Near Flight Lines

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Flight Line

SkyTEM: Interpretation of the Profiles

Flight Line

Water Table

SkyTEM: Interpretation of the Profiles

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N Visalia Tulare

SkyTEM: Example Fence Diagram SkyTEM: Depth to Top of Basement

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SkyTEM: Depth to Top of Corcoran Clay SkyTEM: Thickness of Corcoran Clay

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Resistivity Greater than 25 ohm-m is optimal Good Poor

SkyTEM: Recharge Potential Based

• n Results
• 1. Additional AEM mapping with high density block flights would allow for improved

hydrogeologic framework for identifying recharge areas, managed aquifer recharge sites and estimating groundwater in storage and hydrogeologic boundary identification.

• 2. Siting new boreholes used for water quality and water quantity should use the results

from this survey and future surveys to optimize locations.

• 3. Aquifer characteristic studies such as aquifer tests and other methods should be planned

using the data from this study to optimize location for studies and observation- production well installation.

• 4. Improved geophysical bore hole logs will benefit current and future studies. This logging

should use calibrated equipment for best results.

ITEM 3: SkyTEM Recommendations

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Kaweah Subbasin Coordination (cont.) Revised Water Budgets

Each of these three water budgets periods have been refined with the recent Basin Setting Update

• Historic Period – 1981 to 2017
• Current Period – 1997 to 2017
• Projected Future – 2017 to 2070

Initial GW Model Runs

2) Future No Project Scenario: Base Case

– Assumes current water budget conditions exist in the future modified only by DWR provided climate data sets and forecasts of supply and demand. Distribution of groundwater pumping is consistent with current water budget period – GW model forecasts future groundwater levels for comparison against minimum thresholds

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Initial GW Model Runs

3) Future Management Actions Only: Pumping Reductions

– Assumes current water budget conditions exist in the future modified only by DWR provided climate data sets and forecasts of supply and demand and pumping conforms to water allocations in water accounting framework – GW model forecasts future groundwater levels for setting groundwater level measurable objective and interim milestones

Management Actions

• While projects address the “supply” side of the GSA’s

water balance, management actions are geared toward the reduction of water demand.

• Some actions could be taken by the GSA, regardless of

the GSA/subbasin’s performance on SMCs.

• Other actions are Sustainability Indicator driven, i.e. only

implemented when the Measurable Objective is not met.

• “Demand” side Management Actions are intended to be

a “backstop” should projects fall short of meeting Measurable Objectives.

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Management Action Examples

• Requiring landowners to take surface water when

available, rather than pumping.

• Incentivize on-farm recharge/spreading.
• Incentivize changes in cropping or cultivation practices.
• Incentivize on-farm water efficiency improvements.
• Implement a fallowing/land retirement program.
• Pumping restrictions (at the bottom of the list, but not
• ff the table).

Management Actions Discussion

• Which actions would you consider for the 2020 GSP?
• Are their any actions not listed in the examples presented

that you would like to see considered in the GSP?

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Initial GW Model Runs

3) Future Management Actions Only: Pumping Reductions

Percentage Of The Overdraft Issue To Solve For During Interim Periods Alt. 2020-25 2026-30 2031-35 2036-40 1 20 35 45 2 5 25 30 40 3 5 20 35 40 4 10 20 30 40 5 10 30 30 30 6 25 25 25 25

Initial GW Model Runs

4) Future Management Actions Only: Pumping Reductions + Projects

– Assumes current water budget conditions exist in the future modified only by DWR provided climate data sets and forecasts of supply and demand, pumping conforms to water allocations in water accounting framework, and projects area implemented on planned schedule. – GW model forecasts future groundwater levels for setting groundwater level optimal measurable objective and interim milestones

 Focusing on modeling projects that are currently under construction or that are eminent  Conceptual projects will be described in the GSP but will not be taken credit for initially

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Sustainable Management Criteria

• Criteria must be established for each sustainability indicator
• Additional data and technical study will be required in the

early years of implementation in order to gain confidence in

• ur defining SMC
• GKGSA TAC was unable to identify a reasonable, technical

solution to establishing criteria for most sustainability indicators

SMCs Approach for Groundwater Levels

• For each Representative Monitoring Site, the Minimum

Threshold for Groundwater Levels would be established at the projected 2040 GWL.

– This approach is meant to account for a “worst-case scenario” in which we experience worse drought conditions than we have historically.

• The Measurable Objective for Groundwater Levels would be

the projected 2030 GWL.

– Provides 10 years of drought storage in the “worst-case scenario”.

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SMCs for Change in Storage

• The change in groundwater storage is correlated to the chronic

decline in groundwater levels. Therefore, the SMCs for groundwater levels will be used as a proxy for the change in storage.

SMCs for Water Quality

• The Basin Setting has identified existing water quality issues.

However, undesirable results related directly to groundwater levels have not been observed to-date.

• To re-evaluate a Minimum Threshold and Measurable

Objective for each of the Constituents of Concern discussed in the Basin Setting, ongoing and future water quality monitoring will coincide with GWL measurements.

– e.g. The Kaweah Watershed Coalition has begun to collect water quality samples coincidental with GWL measurements.

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SMCs for Water Quality

• In addition to the IRLP, there are other existing programs (i.e.

Title 22 Drinking Water Program) which monitor water quality and will be used to determine the occurrence of an Undesirable Result, due to the migration of existing groundwater contamination.

SMCs for Subsidence

• The Basin Setting identifies Land Subsidence as a current condition

in the subbasin. However, damage to critical infrastructure within the Kaweah Subbasin has not been observed to-date.

• To establish an Minimum Threshold and Measurable Objective for

subsidence, one method would use the change in storage (with respect to the SMCs for GWLs) to develop correlations between change in storage and rates of subsidence.

• Another method would be to calculate the potential land

subsidence, based on the change in storage, and set a land elevation for Minimum Thresholds and Measurable Objectives at the Representative Monitoring Sites.

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GSP Development

• Basin Setting Chapter

– GKGSA Basin Setting Chapter to be completed with Basin Setting Components Report. The TAC has provided comments on the report, which are being reviewed and addressed.

• Monitoring Network Chapter

– Chapter has been revised to reflect comments and is under internal review. Discussions with other GSAs on coordinated Monitoring Network improvements to finalize Representative Monitoring Sites selection.

• Sustainability Goal and Undesirable Results Chapter

– In draft, to be completed with incorporation of GSAs’ feedback and approval of Undesirable Results definitions and adoption of Sustainability Goal for the Subbasin.

• Sustainable Management Criteria Chapter

– Draft chapter to be revised with Minimum Thresholds and Measurable Objectives, based on TAC, RCC, and SC recommendations.

• Projects and Management Actions Chapter

– Draft chapter under internal review, includes projects and management actions discussed so far, at committees. Follow up discussions with JPA members for input and inclusion of their projects.

GSP Development Milestones

GSP Section/Sub Section Completion Date Revised Completion Date (05/13/19) Percent Complete

1. Introduction Draft in for Review Friday, April 5, 2019 95% 2. Basin Setting Friday, May 10, 2019 Friday, June 7, 2019 70% 3. Sustainability Goal & Undesirable Results Friday, April 26, 2019 Friday, April 26, 2019 75% 4. Monitoring Networks Friday, May 10, 2019 Thursday, May 16, 2019 80% 5. Minimum Thresholds, Measurable Objectives, & Interim Milestones Thursday May 2, 2019 Thursday, May 23, 2019 60% 6. Water Supply Accounting Friday, April 26, 2019 Friday, May 17, 2019 65% 7. Projects, Management Actions and Adaptive Management Tuesday, April 30, 2019 Thursday, May 16, 2019 70% 8. GSP Reporting Tuesday, April 30, 2019 Tuesday, May 14, 2019 85%

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SMC Thresholds and Objectives – Iterative Process Developed by Stakeholders Informed by technical information including groundwater modeling Basin Setting/Water Budget Refinements Draft Projects and Management Actions Chapter

SUBBASIN ACTIVITIES

Groundwater Model Refinement Sustainability Goal and SI Assessment Complete Basin Setting Chapter

GSP Development Schedule

Groundwater Model Simulations

GSA Deliverable

Data Management System Develop Thresholds and Objectives for Rep. Monitoring Sites Complete Monitoring Network Chapter Complete SMC Chapter

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug

Water Supply Accounting Framework Draft Water Supply Accounting Chapter

ITEM 5: GKGSA MEETINGS REPORT

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Communication & Engagement

• Stakeholder survey letters fully mailed by member/partner agencies and companies

– SHE and LCJA working with staff to consider ways to improve response from small communities and domestic well owners

• SHE SGMA Engagement Videos
• Speakers Bureaus and Panels

– Grower outreach event in coordination with Mid-Kaweah – April 23rd – Friant Water Authority Annual Meeting – April 10th – Farmersville Planning Commission presentation – April 17th – Ivanhoe community meeting – TBD

• Website development

Ongoing & Upcoming Policy / Management Action Discussions

• Sustainable Yield
• Allocation of Groundwater (including past accounting & transitional allocation period)
• Allocation Transfers & Water Markets (including inter-basin export)
• Management Areas
• Mitigative Management Actions
• Funding Mechanisms
• Monitoring of Use (including well registration)
• Domestic Wells
• Urban Conservation
• County Ordinance / Permitting Integration
• Penalties and Enforcement