2018 CCID Annual Grower Meeting SGMA FAQ’s

What is the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)?

On September 16, 2014, Governor Jerry Brown signed three bills into law composed of AB 1739, SB 1168 and SB 1319, collectively known as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). SGMA requires governments and water agencies of high and medium priority basins to halt overdraft and bring groundwater basins into balanced levels of pumping and recharge. Under SGMA, these basins should reach sustainability within 20 years of implementing their sustainability plans. For critically over-drafted basins, that will be 2040. Sustainability is best achieved through management at the local level.

Will SGMA affect existing water and property rights?

SGMA does not change or alter surface or groundwater rights.

What is a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA)?

A Groundwater Sustainability Agency is one or more local governmental agencies that implement the provisions of SGMA. A local agency is defined as one that has water supply, water management or land management authority. GSA’s are responsible for development of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan.A Groundwater Sustainability Agency is one or more local governmental agencies that implement the provisions of SGMA. A local agency is defined as one that has water supply, water management or land management authority. GSAs assess the conditions of their local basins, adopt locally-based sustainable management plans to create drought resiliency, and improve coordination between land use and groundwater planning. A Groundwater Sustainability Agency is one or more local governmental agencies that implement the provisions of SGMA. A local agency is defined as one that has water supply, water management or land management authority. GSAs assess the conditions of their local basins, adopt locally-based sustainable management plans to create drought resiliency, and improve coordination between land use and groundwater planning. A Groundwater Sustainability Agency is one or more local governmental agencies that implement the provisions of SGMA. A local agency is defined as one that has water supply, water management or land management authority. GSAs assess the conditions of their local basins, adopt locally-based sustainable management plans to create drought resiliency, and improve coordination between land use and groundwater planning.

When is the deadline to form a GSA?

The deadline to form a GSA was June 30, 2017. CCID and the Exchange Contractors are the exclusive GSA for the service area through Special Act Legislation, SB 372.

What is a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP)?

A Groundwater Sustainability Plan addresses how groundwater will be managed to not trigger Undesirable Results.A GSP is the plan of a GSA that provides for sustainably managed groundwater that meets the requirements of SGMA. GSAs in high and medium priority groundwater basins are required to submit a GSP to the California Department of Water Resources. The plan must outline how the GSA will implement, manage and measure specific actions for the health and viability of the basins. DWR will evaluate the GSP and provide the GSA with an assessment of the plan and any necessary recommendations every two years following its establishment.

What are Undesirable Results?

Chronic lowering of groundwater levels indicating a significant and unreasonable depletion of supply if continued over the planning and implementation horizon. Overdraft during a period of drought is not sufficient to establish a chronic lowering of groundwater levels if extractions and recharge are managed as necessary to ensure that reductions in groundwater levels or storage during a period of drought are offset by increases in groundwater levels or storage during other periods.
Significant and unreasonable reduction of groundwater storage.
Significant and unreasonable seawater intrusion.
Significant and unreasonable degraded water quality, including the migration of contaminant plumes that impair water supplies.
Significant and unreasonable land subsidence that substantially interferes with surface land uses.
Depletions of interconnected surface water that have significant and unreasonable adverse impacts on beneficial uses of the surface water.

When is the deadline to adopt a GSP?

CCID is in the Delta-Mendota Subbasin which has been determined to be in critical overdraft. SGMA requires all GSP’s in a critically overdrafted basin to be submitted to DWR by January 31, 2020.

What is the status of the GSP for CCID?

CCID is parterning with the other Exchange Contractors, local cities and counties to develop a GSP. Much of the work developing the GSP for the Exchange Contractors service area has been completed. We are working with our partnering GSA’s to develop their respective chapters of the GSP.

Which GSA’s will be part of the Exchange Contractors GSP?

The following agencies will be part of the Exchange Contractors GSP: City of Newman, City of Gustine, City of Los Banos, City of Dos Palos, City of Firebaugh, City of Mendota, Turner Island Water District and some undistracted lands near the Exchange Contractors under the respective county GSA.