From the Department of Water Resources Sustainable Groundwater Management Office:
SAVE THE DATE Location Announced for DWR’s March GSA Forum
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is hosting a free Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) Forum for GSA members and stakeholders on March 21, 2019, in West Sacramento, to facilitate the exchange of ideas, establish professional networks and foster successful stakeholder engagement. Two panel discussions will focus on communication, coordination, engagement and outreach. A diverse group of GSAs will be represented, with up to five GSA members on each panel. Panelists will showcase various governance structures, stakeholder outreach and engagement strategies and will provide presentations, followed by a Q&A session. The GSA Forum is free to attend, but space is limited so please register. Boxed lunches for the networking lunch can be ordered when reservations are made.
GSA Forum
March 21, 2019, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Civic Center Galleria
1110 West Capitol Avenue
West Sacramento
NEW Final 2018 Basin Boundary Modifications Released
DWR’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Office released the 2018 Final Basin Boundary Modifications decisions and accompanying documents. In the final decisions, 35 basin boundary modifications requests were approved, four were denied, and four were partially approved.
Click on the following links to view 2018 Final Basin Boundary Modifications results:
For additional information, please refer to the Basin Boundary Modifications webpage.
For questions, email sgmps@water.ca.gov.
REMINDER Alternative Submittals Annual Report Deadline is April 1, 2019
SGMA established a process for local agencies to develop an Alternative in lieu of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for evaluation by DWR. An Alternative was required to be submitted to DWR for review by January 1, 2017, with annual reports for the preceding water year due by April 1 of each year. The water year 2018 annual report submittal deadline is April 1, 2019.
DWR has developed an online Alternative Reporting System that allows local agencies to submit Alternatives and the public to review and comment on the Alternatives.
For more information on requirements and evaluation criteria, click here and go to Alternative Submittal and for reference view the Groundwater Sustainability Plan Regulations.
For more information, contact Craig Altare at Craig.Altare@water.ca.gov or call (916) 651-0870.
REMINDER Submit Your GSP Initial Notification
Groundwater sustainability agencies (GSA) are required to notify DWR, in writing, prior to initiating development of a groundwater sustainability plan (GSP). GSAs must submit all applicable GSP initial notification information to DWR using the SGMA Portal – GSP Initial Notification System. The SGMA Portal – GSP Initial Notification System also allows edits to be made to a previously submitted Initial Notification, including the ability to withdraw a submittal.
Also, remember, “If the geographic area to be covered by the plan includes a public water system regulated by the Public Utilities Commission, the groundwater sustainability agency shall provide the written statement to the commission.” See Water Code § 10727.8.
For more information, please see Frequently Asked Questions on GSP Initial Notification Requirements or contact the Regional Coordinators in DWR’s four Regional Offices.
For assistance with the system, please email monica.reis@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 applications for Technical Support Services and Facilitation Support Services.
For regional inquiries, please contact sgmp_rc@water.ca.gov.
For general inquiries, please contact sgmps@water.ca.gov.
Click here to view all posted announcements.
Get 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!
