WHY DO WE NEED TO MANAGE GROUNDWATER NOW? S O N O M A V A L L E - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

sonomacountygroundwater.org

S O N O M A V A L L E Y

G R O U N D W A T E R S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y A G E N C Y Jay Jasperse, Plan Manager

WHY DO WE NEED TO MANAGE GROUNDWATER NOW?

sonomacountygroundwater.org

Groundwater and the Drought

Photo from Associated Press

• California one of last western states to

manage groundwater

• During the drought, some Central Valley

communities ran out of water

• Land subsidence (sinking) from too much

groundwater pumping

• Sonoma County wants

to avoid these problems!

sonomacountygroundwater.org

What’s going on in Sonoma Valley?

• Not the Central Valley, but not perfect

either

• 2006 USGS study identified some issues of

groundwater levels and quality

• Voluntary management plan adopted in

2007

• As much as 60% of our water supply comes

from groundwater

• The basin is required by the state to

manage these issues

sonomacountygroundwater.org

What’s going

• n in Sonoma

Valley?

• Several areas in

Sonoma Valley have shown decreasing groundwater levels over the past several decades.

sonomacountygroundwater.org

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)

Step one Form Groundwater Sustainability Agency June 30, 2017 Step two Develop Groundwater Sustainability Plan January 31, 2022 Step three Achieve Sustainability 20 years after adoption of plan*

sonomacountygroundwater.org

• If the state intervenes, it will be more expensive and less tailored

to local needs. Eventually, local money will be spent on developing a Sonoma Valley groundwater sustainability plan.

No GSA means State Intervention

• If local agencies do not meet SGMA’s requirements, the State

will step in.

• The Sonoma Valley GSA was created so that we can manage our

groundwater locally.

sonomacountygroundwater.org

No GSA means State Intervention

State-Based Intervention Fees (these fees are in addition to the costs of preparing the GSP!)

Base Filing Fee

(per well)

300

$

Late Fee

(per month)

+

25

%

*special studies extra

Volumetric Rate

(per acre-foot)

+

Unmanaged

25

$

InterimPlan

55

$

Probation

40

$

* *

FEES beginning in Water Year 2018

sonomacountygroundwater.org

Why does the GSA need new funding?

• The first year of the GSA

was funded by its member agencies

• These agencies will fund
• ne more year
• Expect GSA to have its own

funding source after two years of operations

Member Agency Total Initial FY 2017-18 Commitment Sonoma Resource Conservation District $20,000 North Bay Water District $20,000 City of Sonoma $ 97,767 Valley of the Moon Water District $ 97,767 County of Sonoma $117,233 Sonoma County Water Agency $117,233

sonomacountygroundwater.org

Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Requirements

• Describe the basin conditions, using a hydrologic conceptual model
• Describe the basin-specific monitoring network
• Establish numerical thresholds and measurable objectives to avoid

undesirable results:

• Identify projects and actions needed to achieve or maintain

sustainable conditions within 20 years

• Robust stakeholder outreach is required

…AND, must be completed by January 31, 2022

sonomacountygroundwater.org

sonomacountygroundwater.org

GSP development: How to Get Involved

• Go to sonomacountygroundwater.org

for information on the plan and to sign up for Monthly Email Updates

• Come to Board and Advisory

Committee meetings