Public Input Sought on Groundwater Sustainability Management Plan

The East Contra Costa Groundwater Sustainability Working Group, including the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID), is preparing a Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan (Plan) and seeks input on the first two sections of the document.

The East Contra Costa Groundwater Subbasin is a medium priority subbasin, as determined by the State, and requires preparation of a Plan under the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).

Sections 1 and 2 of the Draft Plan discuss the purpose of the Plan, the sustainability goal, the planning area, current and historical water and land uses, and information on groundwater wells in the East Contra Costa Groundwater Subbasin. You may comment on the document without attending the meeting. Sections 1 and 2 are found at the link below, or email groundwaterinfo@dcd.cccounty.us and request the document. Comments are due on July 20, 2020.

Link to document and other information: http://tinyurl.com/ECCGSP-1.

To hear more about the Plan, an online public meeting will be held on Thursday, July 9, from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m.

You may register to attend here: http://tinyurl.com/ECCGSP-mtg1.

For additional SGMA inquiries, to provide more detailed comments, or to be included on the email list, please send us an email.

BBID is part of two groundwater subbasins, the Tracy Subbasin and the East Contra Costa Subbasin. Click here for more information.

The meeting workbook and initial announcement are below.

ECC_Outreach_Meeting_Workbook_Final2

Newspaper Notice 15June2020 - Final

Virtual Public Workshop Planned for Sustainable Groundwater

Local public agencies, including the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID), are inviting the public to learn more about how agencies are working together to sustainably manage the region’s groundwater.

The virtual workshop will be held on Tuesday, July 21st, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Click here to register: https://tinyurl.com/y9jmarho.

Representatives from local agencies will be on-hand to discuss the planning process as part of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA. Click here to learn more.

TracyWorkshop1_FullFlyer_FINAL

Historic Water District Merger Approved

Stockton, CA (June 11, 2020) – In a historic vote, a consolidation of two of the oldest irrigation districts in the Tracy area was approved Thursday. The San Joaquin Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) voted unanimously in favor of consolidating the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) and the West Side Irrigation District (WSID).

“By combining forces, we will improve water reliability for our customers, as well as greater financial stability and improved efficiency,” said BBID GM Rick Gilmore. “We thank LAFCO for its consideration throughout this process, culminating with today’s affirmative vote.”

Resolutions previously approved by BBID and WSID call for the 6,000-acre WSID service area west of Tracy to be incorporated into the existing 30,000-acre service area of BBID, establishing a single 36,000- acre district. The former boundaries of WSID will be known as the West Side Service Area.

The merger has been in the works since 2016, when both districts first voted to move forward. Leaders from BBID and WSID formed an ad-hoc committee, carefully studying financial data and touring facilities dating back decades. Both agencies began in the early 1900s serving agricultural customers. Ultimately, leaders decided a merger would bring substantial benefits in the form of stronger water resources and water rights. Landowners expressed their strong support at a public meeting held at the outset of the process.

Last June, LAFCO adopted a final Municipal Service Review (MSR) and Sphere of Influence (SOI) prepared by both districts, which includes an extensive review of financial information, infrastructure, and services provided.

Following Thursday’s vote, per LAFCO procedure, a protest hearing will be held in 45 days. Unless more than 50% of the registered voters living in the affected area provide a written protest, the merger will become official.

BBID previously merged with the Plain View Water District in 2004.

Sen. Feinstein Introduces Legislation to Restore “Backbone” of CA Water System

Joint Statement by the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, Friant Water Authority, and the State Water Contractors, in Support of S.3811, the Restoration of Essential Conveyance Act

The introduction of the S.3811, the Restoration of Essential Conveyance Act by Sen. Dianne Feinstein is a welcome step toward restoring critically-important water supplies to 27 million Californians, 3 million acres of the nation’s most productive farmland, hundreds of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat and restoration of the San Joaquin River.

This legislation helps to address the impacts of groundwater subsidence on major portions of California’s water delivery system – infrastructure millions of people depend on for water supply, flood control, and environmental protection.

The bill authorizes $600 million in federal funding for three major projects to repair California’s water delivery system, which has reduced conveyance capacity as a result of subsidence along the canals. The bill provides $200 million for the Friant-Kern Canal, $200 million for the Delta-Mendota Canal, and $200 million for the California Aqueduct. Additionally, the bill provides an additional $200 million in funding for restoration of the San Joaquin River, including environmentally protective infrastructure such as fish screens, fish bypass projects, and control structures necessary to successfully implement the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement.

“The Restoration of Essential Conveyance Act increases federal investments to restore California’s backbone water conveyance infrastructure, which is the foundation on which California’s success is built,” said Federico Barajas, executive director of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority. “Access to reliable water is vital for California’s people, its environment and its economy. This is about investing in the repair and long-term reliability of California’s water infrastructure that serves millions of people, farmland vital to the nation’s food supply, and the preservation and restoration of California’s environment.”

“By helping to address the conveyance pinch on the Friant-Kern Canal – which has reduced its carrying capacity by as much as 60% in some locations – this bill assists with one of the most critical and desperate needs to achieve long-term sustainability in the San Joaquin Valley.  The bill also makes significant investments in implementing the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement, in acknowledgement of the shared future between the Friant Division contractors and the San Joaquin River,” said Jason Phillips, executive director of the Friant Water Authority.

“Successful implementation of the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requires that public water agencies have access to the full capacity of the State Water Project’s existing canals.  Senator Feinstein’s bill helps restore capacity in existing canals that are used to move water into storage in wet years so it is available in dry years.  Restoring canal capacity also supports implementation of water storage projects that produce environmental benefits funded by Proposition 1,” said Jennifer Pierre of the State Water Contractors.

The Restoration of Essential Conveyance Act complements legislation by Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16), the author of H.R. 5752, the Conveyance Capacity Correction Act, and H.R. 5316 by Rep. T.J. Cox (CA-21), the Move Water Now Act. Together, the Senate and House bills, if enacted, will provide significant funding necessary to repair these essential conveyance projects.

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Byron-Bethany Irrigation District is a member agency of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority.

WATCH: BBID Uses World-Class Tech to Conduct Major Pipeline Test

WATCH: Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID), working with its engineering firm Hazen & Sawyer and global firm Pure Technologies, conducted a state-of-the-art pipeline test.

The test, which took place over several days, assessed the condition of the raw water pipeline to Mountain House, the growing community’s sole source of water supply. Results will be announced in several weeks.

Spring Storms Boost CVP Water Allocation

Sacramento, CA (May 19, 2020) – Today, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) issued an updated, increased water supply allocation of 20% for South-of-Delta Central Valley Project (CVP) contractors, including the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID). The initial allocation had been set at 15%.

Federico Barajas, Executive Director of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, issued the following statement:

“During these unprecedented times, we must remember that reliable water supplies are the foundation on which community and economic health is built.

This year’s lack of rain and snowpack has challenged Reclamation’s ability to meet the multiple needs for water deliveries from the Central Valley Project – agricultural water supply, water for ecosystems and threatened species, and water for California’s urban populations.

The San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority appreciates Reclamation’s ability to carefully strike a balance, given the challenging conditions. The reliability and quantity of surface water deliveries directly impacts the amount of groundwater that is used to produce the food we eat and the water we drink.

Today’s announcement of a water allocation increase has positive benefits for California communities and its environment and reduces the reliance on groundwater aquifers in the San Joaquin Valley.”

BBID is a member agency of the SLDMWA, which serves 28 member public agencies, 25 of which contract with Reclamation for water supply from the CVP.

In a news release, Reclamation credited spring storms for the increased allocation.

“Thanks to April precipitation showing a sizeable water supply improvement for the American River watershed, Reclamation is pleased to announce this increased allocation for CVP water contractors south-of-the Delta,” said California-Great Basin Regional Director Ernest Conant. “Even with the recent gains in water supply, the year as a whole has still been relatively dry. Reclamation will continue to monitor conditions and adjust accordingly. We urge our contractors to continue to exercise conservative use of the resource.”

Further water supply updates are posted at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvp-water/index.html. 

Comments Requested on Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan, Chapters 1 & 2

[CONTRA COSTA, CA] – The East Contra Costa Groundwater Sustainability Working Group is seeking input on Chapters 1 and 2 of a Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan (Plan). Comments are due June 1, 2020.  The Plan is required under the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Additional chapters will be released on a quarterly basis throughout 2020. More information and a form for comments are available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ECC_GSP_Chpts1_2.

In announcing the release of the draft chapters, Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) General Manager Rick Gilmore explained, “We are happy to be one of the agencies participating in this process. Developing a sustainability plan is an important step in meeting the requirements of SGMA to halt overdraft and support a healthy groundwater basin. We are confident we will be able to achieve the state’s goals well before the 2042 deadline.”

Chapter 1 of the plan provides background information including the purpose of the plan and the sustainability goal. Chapter 1 also includes more about the East Contra Costa agencies that will manage the plan implementation.  Chapter 2 outlines the planning area and the data that is being used to prepare the plan.  It also considers water and land use related topics including current and historic uses and the General Plans guiding land use. Another element is a description of economically disadvantaged areas with in the subbasin. The last section of the chapter describes county wells, permitting and well protection.

The table of contents for the full draft plan is located HERE. Prior to offering comments, reviewers are encouraged to read through the table of contents and learn more about the topics that will be considered in the remaining chapters.  A copy of Chapters 1 & 2 is HERE.

For additional SGMA inquiries, to provide more detailed comments, or to be included on the email list, please contact groundwaterinfo@dcd.cccounty.us.

For a PDF version of this news release, please see below.

SGMA_For Immediate Release 5.7.2020

Sec. Bernhardt: Recent State Water Litigation “Ill-Founded, Potentially Unlawful”

On Tuesday, Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt addressed recent litigation filed by the State of California, in relation to the operations of the state and federal water projects.

In the below letter addressed to Senator Dianne Feinstein, Sec. Bernhardt responded to recent letters written by Governor Newsom and Senator Feinstein regarding California water management.

CVP-Response-to-Sen.-Feinstein

Water Deliveries Begin Despite COVID-19 Pandemic

Byron, CA (March 27, 2020) – At the outset of the growing season, crews with Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) are maintaining operations. Water deliveries for our growers will continue despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and the District’s water supplies are not impacted.

The District is following all CDC recommendations to help combat the spread of the virus. BBID has instituted management practices to protect employees, all of whom serve essential functions for the District. Staff are working remotely when possible, and field crews are following social distancing guidelines.

“We are all in this together,” said BBID GM Rick Gilmore. “While we do our part to keep our crews and communities safe from COVID-19, we are also ensuring reliable water deliveries continue to support agriculture, an essential industry.”