SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PGM NEWS: Technical support services, new data and tools

From the Department of Water Resources’ Sustainable Groundwater Management Program:

Technical Support Services Now Available!

As a part of our ongoing mission to provide technical and planning assistance to GSAs, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Program is pleased to announce Technical Support Services (TSS) to assist with GSP development. These vital services will aid GSAs at the regional and statewide scales to help fill data gaps, develop monitoring networks, and build the capacity needed to achieve sustainability.

Services include:

  • Monitoring Well Installation
    • Geophysical logging
    • Geologic logging
  • Groundwater Level Monitoring Training
  • Borehole/Well Video Logging
  • Modeling Support and Training
  • And other Field Activities

See the TSS Factsheet for more information on how to apply for TSS at: https://www.water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/Groundwater-Management/Assistance-and-Engagement/Files/SGMA-Technical-Support-Services-TSS-Fact-Sheet.pdf

TSS information can also be found online under Programs > Groundwater Management > SGMA Groundwater Management > SGMA Facilitation & Technical Support Services


SGMA Data Viewer Launched

The just released SGMA Data Viewer provides access to groundwater related datasets that are organized by the requirements of SGMA and the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) regulations to support GSP development and implementation.

Benefits of the SGMA Data Viewer include access to many existing SGMA-related datasets, reduced costs to GSAs and landowners, increased data sharing among GSAs, and convenient data access and download.

View the SGMA Data Viewer Fact Sheet for more information about this application.

The SGMA Viewer can also be found online under Programs > Groundwater Management > SGMA Groundwater Management > Data and Tools > Mapping


Natural Communities Commonly Associated with Groundwater (NCCAG) Dataset Viewer

SGMA and DWR’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan Regulations establish new requirements on the elements that GSAs are to include in GSPs. One of those requirements is the identification of, and where appropriate, impacts on groundwater dependent ecosystems. The Natural Communities dataset is a compilation of 48 publicly available State and Federal agency datasets that map vegetation, wetlands, springs, and seeps in California. DWR created the NCCAG dataset to assist GSAs in the preparation and implementation of GSPs.

The NCCAG Dataset Viewer provides efficient access to the Natural Communities dataset and related source datasets, allowing both query and download of features in the NCCAG Dataset and query of source data sets used in the development of the NCCAG Dataset.

Find more information about the NCCAG Dataset Viewer review the Summary Document.

The NCCAG Dataset Viewer can also be found online under Programs > Groundwater Management > SGMA Groundwater Management > Data and Tools > Mapping


Draft Climate Change Guidance Document and Dataset Now Available

DWR is providing data, tools, and guidance to assist GSAs with incorporating climate change into their GSPs.

DWR has published the draft Guidance for Climate Change Data Use During Sustainability Plan Development document. The purpose of this document is to provide Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and other stakeholders with information regarding climate change datasets for use in developing GSPs. The datasets and methodologies referred to in the document are provided as guidance to GSAs to develop projected water budgets.

The Climate dataset is available in the SGMA Data Viewer under Water Budgets.

The comment period for the guidance document and the dataset is open until May 31, 2018. Please submit comments by email to Tyler Hatch at Tyler.Hatch@water.ca.gov

For questions or more information please contact Tyler Hatch at Tyler.Hatch@water.ca.gov

The Climate Change Guidance Document can also be found online under Programs > Groundwater Management > SGMA Groundwater Management > Data and Tools > Climate Change


Updated Modeling Tools Factsheet

DWR developed a factsheet to inform local agencies and stakeholders about DWR’s integrated hydrologic modeling code and applications, including their status and plans for future development. For more information on the modeling tools available, please review the Modeling Tools Factsheet and visit the website at https://www.water.ca.gov/Programs/Groundwater-Management/Data-and-Tools

For SGMA Technical Assistance, contact Steven Springhorn at Steven.Springhorn@water.ca.gov.

For Sustainable Groundwater Management Program Modeling information contact Tyler Hatch at Tyler.Hatch@water.ca.gov.

For IWFM and/or C2VSim Support contact Tariq Kadir at IWFMtechsupport@water.ca.gov.


Connect with Your Basin Point-of-Contact

DWR has designated Basin Points-of-Contact to assist local agencies and GSAs as GSPs are developed and implemented and to assist with application for Technical Support Services and Facilitation Support Services. To determine your Basin Point-of-Contact, please see the following links that provide maps and contact information regarding each groundwater basin:

For regional inquiries, please contact sgmp_rc@water.ca.gov and for general inquiries, please contact sgmps@water.ca.gov.


Upcoming Events

State Water Board Prop 1 Groundwater Grant Program (Round 2) – Public Workshop
April 30, 2018, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board – Sacramento Office, 11020 Sun Center Drive, Suite 200

Proposition 1 was passed by voters in November 2014 and provided $900 million for a Groundwater Sustainability Program (Assembly Bill 1471, Chapter 10). The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) is administering $800 million to prevent and cleanup contamination of groundwater that serves (or has served) as a source of drinking water. The funds are available as grants.

The State Water Board is conducting workshops for the Groundwater Grant Program Round 2 Solicitation, which will provide information and guidance regarding how to apply. For more information visit their website at: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/proposition1/groundwater_sustainability.shtml#apply

Webcast will be available at: https://video.calepa.ca.gov/ for April 30, 2018 workshop.

Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable: Restoration and Management for Sustainability
May 3-4, 2018
Sonoma County Water Agency – Westside Water Education Center

The Roundtable will include panel presentations by DWR on the California Water Plan Update 2018, Partnerships on Atmospheric Rivers, Drought, and Flood in the Russian River Watershed, Partnerships on Sustainable Groundwater Management, and Innovation and Technology for Water. Find more information and register here.

GRACAST: Water Well Rehabilitation- Video Logging Techniques for Planning and Process Assessment
May 30, 2018, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

The Groundwater Resources Association is hosting a GRACAST to present tools for selecting rehabilitation methodology and improved interpretation of the rehabilitation effort for downhole video logging. Find more information and register here.

Groundwater Sustainability Plan Preparation Workshop
June 5, 2018, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Hilton Sacramento Arden West, 2200 Harvard Street, Sacramento

The Groundwater Resources Association is hosting a workshop on Groundwater Sustainability Plan development that provides participants a series of applied, table top exercises designed to tackle the challenges of SGMA. The workshop will include guidance and technical support from DWR staff. Register and find more information online here.

Click here to view all posted announcements.

Daily emailsGet the Notebook blog by email and never miss a post!

Sign up for daily emails and get all the Notebook’s aggregated and original water news content delivered to your email box by 9AM. Breaking news alerts, too. Sign me up!