Solano SubbasinSustainable Groundwater

Management Act

Prospective GSA Board Workshop

Goals

1) Update and Inform Prospective GSA Board members on:

• SGMA basics • Work to date in the Subbasin• Anticipated work ahead for GSA filing

• 2) Address Questions & Concerns on any of the above

This is a long term process, and a complex system…working together will be key for SGMA success

Groundrules we’ve used in GSAG & public mtgs:

1. Be PresentGive each other the gift of our time (cell phones off).

2. Listen OpenlyPractice patience, attention, and respect for different views.

3.Speak CourteouslyShare your views candidly, define key terms, and share the floor generously.

4. Suspend CertaintyBe curious about new information, approaches, opinions.

An Overview for the Solano Subbassin: Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)

Chris Lee-SCWAFebruary 9, 2017SGMA Workshop

California’s Major Groundwater Milestones

SGMA Overview

● SGMA-robust framework for the

sustainable management of groundwater

● Effective January 1, 2015

● Requires groundwater sustainability plans

in medium and high priority basins

● Recognizes that management is most

effective at the local level

● Creates State “backstop”

● Defines timeframe for accomplishing goals

Key SGMA Requirements

• Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) must be formed by June 30, 2017.

• For Solano-a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) must be developed by January 31, 2022.

• Achieve sustainability 20 years after plan adoption.

General Roles & Responsibilities

DWR(Regulate & Assist)

State Board(Enforce)

GSA(Planning

& Implementation)

Priority Basins

• DWR Bulletin 118

• DWR ranked GW basin importance by considering a 8 factors

• 127 of 515 alluvial GW basins and subbasins are medium and high priority

Solano GW Basins

Solano SubbasinMedium Priority

Proposed SID GSA

Proposed SID GSA

Proposed Northern Delta GSA

What is a Groundwater Sustainability Agency?

● Any local agency or combination of local agencies overlying a groundwater basin can

elect to be a GSA.

● Local agency = local public agency having water supply, water management, or land

use responsibilities within a basin.

● Multiple local agencies may form a GSA through a JPA or an MOU.

● Non-agency parties:

• Water Corporations regulated by PUC

• Others

What Does a GSA Do?

Coordination: Regardless of the governance model that is chosen, the GSA will need to

coordinate with other agencies in its basin and its neighboring basins.

GSP development: Priority basins required to develop/implement GSP(s). If multiple

GSPs are developed for same basin, a coordination agreement will be required.

GSP implementation: The GSP will be actionable through new authorities and tools*

intended to achieve groundwater sustainability in a basin within the SGMA timeline.

• Coordination

• Public Outreach & Stakeholder Engagement

• GSP Development

• Monitoring & Reporting

• GSP Implementation

• Enforcement

GSA Eligible Agencies in Solano Subbasin

• Counties

• Cities

• Water Agencies/Irrigation Districts

• Reclamation Districts

• Resource Conservation Districts

Groundwater Sustainability Plan-2022

• Sustainably Manage Solano Subassin by avoiding:• Chronic Lowering of Groundwater Levels

• Significant and Unreasonable Reductions of Groundwater Storage

• Significant and Unreasonable Seawater Intrusion

• Significant and Unreasonable Degradation of Water Quality

• Significant and Unreasonable Land Subsidence

• Surface Water Depletions that have Significant and Unreasonable Adverse Impacts on Beneficial Uses

Water Supplies

Groundwater

Lake Berryessa (Solano Project)North Bay Aqueduct (SWP)

Surface/Groundwater Use

Surface Water Use-Acre-Feet/Year-90%

NBA35 TAF

SP175 TAF

Groundwater Use-Acre-Feet/Year-10%

RV3 TAF VV

6 TAF

DXN3.5 TAF

SID10 TAF

Agricultural/Municipal & Industrial Use

M&I36%

Ag Use74%

Currently Monitored WellsCurrently Monitored Wells

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Long-term Well Data

Different Conditions=Different Management Practices

• Solano Subbasin• Differences in Geology

• Differences in Water Source

• Differences in Water Use

• Differences in Aquifer Characteristics

• Local Management Best=Special Management Areas

Questions?

Public Outreach & Engagement

Brooking Gatewood

Solano Subbasin Facilitation support services lead

Solano SGMA Work to Date Review

Oct15 Nov15 Dec15 Jan16 Feb16 Mar16 Apr16 May16 Jun16 Jul16 Aug16 Sept16 Oct16 Nov16 Dec16

Inte

rage

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Co

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inat

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Pu

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/ S

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Interviews with GSA-eligible agencies in the Solano Subbasin

Brief summarizing key findings and recommendations

GSA Staff Advisory Group Meetings x7

Ag Summit

Interviews with opinion leaders

Develop list of external stakeholders and work-plan

Listserv Communications

Public Input Workshops x3

➔ GSA Working Group: Draft Charter

Outreach at farm/community org. meetings

For more information visit:http://scwa2.com/sgma

Public Update & Input Workshops x 2 + Webinar

Finance Work Group Meetings

Governance Work Group Meetings

GSA Recs & Princ

GSA Staff Advisory Group (GSAG) Participants Sac County (Darrell Eck)

Solano County (Misty Kaltreider)

Yolo County/ YCFCWD (Tim O’Halloran)

City of Fairfield/Travis AFB (Felix Riesenberg)

City of Dixon (Joe Leach)

City of Rio Vista (Dave Melilli)

City of Vacaville (Royce Cunningham)

California Water Service (Jack Caldwell)

Maine Prairie WD (Don Holdner / alt. Ryan Mahoney)

Rural N. Vacaville WD (Gordon Stankowski)

Solano County Water Agency (Chris Lee)

Solano Irrigation District (Cary Keaton)

N. Delta Water Agency (Melinda Terry)

RD 2068 (Mike Hardesty)

Dixon RCD (John Currey)

Solano RCD (Chris Rose)

Northern Delta GSA (Erik Ringelberg)

SC Farm Bureau (Derrick Lum)

SC Ag Advisory Committee (Russ Lester)

Additional RD reps invited have included: Pat Markum (RD 765), Kekrick Jameson (RD 900), Juan Mercado (RD 1601), Tom Schene (RD 2098), Ken Machado (RD 2104)

GSA Recommendations OVERVIEW

● Recommending 1 Solano County-based GSA with

■ A Joint Powers Authority legal structure

■ MOUs with neighboring Subbasin authorities

■ Special Management Areas for implementation

■ A Technical Advisory Group

● A 16 Member Board with dedicated Ag Seats○ Supermajority voting for key decisions (Details on voting structure to be

decided by GSA Board)

● 12+ GSA & GSP planning principles

○ based on public input & staff recommendations

Recommended GSA Board Structure (up to 16 seats)

Counties Cities Water Agencies Other Agencies

Sacramento Co. City of Dixon Maine Prairie Water District Northern Delta GSA*

(Represents Delta RDs)

Dixon Resource

Conservation District

Solano Resource

Conservation District

California Water Service***

* will share a seat as NDGSA is not yet

formed. More info on this by end of

February.

** non-voting, admin role

*** Local water corporations can

participate by MOU/invite.

**** May form own GSA

Solano Co.(x2) City of Fairfield North Delta Water Agency*

Yolo Co. City of Rio Vista Rural North Vacaville WD

City of Vacaville Solano Irrigation District****

Solano County Water Agency**

Sacramento County Water

Agency

Yolo Co. Flood Control And

Water Conservation District

Reclamation District 2068

+ 2 Ag Seats Nominated by:

● Ag Advisory Committee● Solano County Farm Bureau

(active farmers/gw users in Subbasin)

Full Recommended GSA Governance Structure

*SMA number & make-up not final, this shows one possible configuration.

SNAPSHOT: Public Input MeetingsEvent # Input solicited How it’s been used

Three Public Input Workshops in February and March 2017

Vacaville, Rio Vista, Davis

145 1. What are your concerns2. How, when, and how do you want

to be involved? 3. What are the local groundwater

conditions in your area?

1. Led to Ag reps on GSA Advisory groups & FAQ development

2. Informed public engagement strategy

3. Will help technical staff prioritize areas for monitoring and research

Ag Summit 85 1. Did we get your concerns right?2. What guiding principles could

ensure fair ag representation?3. How can ag be represented in the

GSA?

→ Informed GSA governance and principles development: 2 dedicated ag reps as part of the recommended board structure, in addition to 2 RCD seats, 2 county seats, and an RD 2068 seat.

Three Public Input Workshops in December 2016

Vacaville, Rio Vista, online

TBD 1. What are the ways that

landowners are currently

managing groundwater well that

we might learn from, expand, and

incentivize?

Questions from this meeting were added to our SGMA FAQ. Input responses will help inform upcoming GSP development discussions on ways to minimize end-users costs and encourage positive management practices in the subbasin.

Concerns raised in early Public Input Meetings

* Responding to fee questions• How will groundwater users be charged for water? When?

• User fees will likely be part of the solution, along with state grants, Prop 1 $, and agency membership fees.

• We will not know more until the GSP draft is developed, 2020-2021

• Will users have input into decisions?

• Yes! We are seeking your input ahead of the GSP planning process

• Draft GSP plans will also be open for public comment and input, ~2021-2022

• There will also be direct ag representation and public representation via county supervisors on the GSA Board.

• Principle #10 strives for equal cost sharing across all beneficiaries & stakeholders.

• Can it be streamlined and kept simple?

• That’s the hope for agencies and the public alike!

• This idea shows up in our principles of keeping it voluntary where possible (#7) and coordinating with other regulatoryrequirements (#9).

• Can farmers be paid for recharge?

• This is written into principle #11 and is something we explored with the public in December meetings

Public Input into GSA Principles Development

AG SUMMIT PRINCIPLES THEMES:

❏ Consider sustainability and longevity of our local

groundwater resource❏ Keep it transparent and simple ❏ Ensure fair access to technical knowledge

for sound decisionmaking❏ Prioritize local governance and control ❏ Recognize variance in local conditions❏ Proportional and fair representation❏ GSA should not have financial conflict of interest ❏ Value ag’s role in the local economy

FINAL PRINCIPLES THEMES: 1. (Summary principle)2. Water use and rights

protection3. Protect property owners’

access w/in sustainable yield 4. Collaboration5. Shared technical knowledge6. Fact-based decision-making7. Aim for minimal required

response8. Manage close to use (use

SMAs)9. Coordination with other laws

/ water mgmt efforts10.Fair cost sharing11.Maximizing recharge (also,

13, draft)

12.Minimize adverse economic

impacts

The Work Ahead: Long View

We are here GSP input opportunities

Questions?

Comments?

Solano GSA Preliminary Economics

• Start-up Costs

• Groundwater Sustainability Plan

• Annual Costs

GSA Start-up Costs-to June 30, 2017

• Legal Instrument for GSA (JPA/MOU/MOA)-In-Kind

• Facilitation Services-SCWA (~$50,000)

• GSA Administration-In-Kind

• DWR GSA Application-In-Kind

GSP Development Phase-June 2017-2022

• GSA Administration-In-Kind/Member Dues-$6,000/year initially

• SGMA Fee Assessment-$100-$350,000-Member Dues/Grants

• Groundwater Sustainability Plan-$650,000-$1,650,000-Grants/User Fees• Existing Conditions/Water Budget/Sustainable Yield

• Monitoring Networks

• Management Areas

• Projects and Management Actions

• Facilitation/Public Input Meetings

GSA Fees

• Member Dues/Fees

• User Fees

• Groundwater Extraction Fees

• Prop 218/Prop 26

GSP Implementation Phase/Annual Costs-2022-2042

• GSP Annual Monitoring & Reporting

• 5-Year Updates & Reporting

• Ongoing Outreach/Facilitation

• Total=$400-$850,000 Member Dues/User Fees

Questions?

Short-Term Next Steps

Summary of recent & upcoming actions

Oct’16 Nov’16 Dec’16 Jan’17 Feb’17 Mar’17 Apr’17 May’17 Jun’17

Staff to Update BoDs & receive input on GSAG Recommendations & Guiding Principles

Staff Refines costs and cost-sharing scenarios

Public SGMA Update & Input Workshops(Ag Innovations)

JPA Drafting (Herum & Crabtree)

GSA-eligible Agencies Approve GSA Governance Structure

GSA Board Orientation & JPA Input

Review draft JPA and cost estimates

Finalize JPA

DWR GSA Application Development (SCWA)

Review, Approve, & Submit GSA App.(incl. public notice)

(Waiting Period)

Establish GSA (w/ DWR approval)

(Ongoing SCWA Administrative & Staff Support for GSA BoD members)

Policy Makers

Staff

Consultants

Public Input

Timeline

• Staff/counsel finalize JPA (February 2017)• Legal counsel in-person meeting

• Agencies approve JPA (February-March 2017)• Nominate Board of Directors

• Develop GSA Application (February-March 2017)• SCWA administrative assistance

• Submit GSA Application (by late March 2017)

• GSA Formation Deadline: June 30, 2017

Joint Powers Agreement

• “Solano Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency”

• Governance• 11-member Joint Powers Authority• 16-member Board of Directors

• Initial funding contribution: $6,000/Board seat

• Supermajority vote required for key decisions

• Special Management Areas

• Advisory Committees

• Envisions memorandum of understanding or other agreement with Cal Water (and potentially Farm Bureau)

GSA Application

• Local agencies must notify DWR within 30 days of JPA effective date. Notification must include:

• Subbasin / GSA service area boundaries

• Resolution(s) forming the new agency

• Any new bylaws, ordinances, or new authorities adopted by the local agencies

• List of interested parties and explanation of how their interests will be considered in GSA operation and GSP development / implementation

• DWR will post all complete notices online within 15 days.

• Decision to become GSA takes effect 90 days after DWR posting, if no other local agency submits overlapping notification

Medium-Long Term Next Steps

• Convene GSA Board of Directors

• Evaluate GSA Financing Options

• Negotiate Coordination Agreements

• GSP development process (2017-2022)

• GSP Implementation Process (2022-∞)

THANK YOU!Brooking Gatewood

Senior FacilitatorAg Innovations

brooking@aginnovations.org(707) 823 6111 x 140

Joseph McIntyrePresident

Ag Innovationsjoseph@aginnovations.org

(707) 823 6111 x 110

Seven “Cardinal Principles”

1. Compliance with the requirements of SGMA and subsequent law and regulations

2. Protection of groundwater resources in the Subbasin3. Protection of existing reasonable and beneficial water uses4. Protection of existing legal rights to groundwater5. Assurance of full and fair representation of all groundwater

stakeholders in the GSA6. Respecting the value of local management of the distinct

water regions in the County7. Respecting existing riparian and permitted surface water

rights of landowners and agencies, and existing water purchase agreements

Principles Themes

1. Water use and rights protection2. Protect property owners’ access w/in sustainable yield

3. Collaboration4. Shared technical knowledge5. Fact-based decision-making6. Aim for minimal required response7. Manage close to use (use SMAs)8. Coordination with other laws / water mgmt efforts9. Fair cost sharing10.Maximizing recharge11.Minimize adverse economic impacts