DWR: Public Comment Period Opens for Groundwater Sustainability Plans

The following news release is from the California Department of Water Resources:

Groundwater sustainability plans that have recently been submitted to the Department are now posted on the DWR SGMA Portal.

These plans are open to public comment for 75 days after the posted date. Below in the table are links to the submitted plans, counties they cover, and the public comment period end date.

Information about how to comment on the plans can be found in a fact sheet in English and Spanish. Public comments are welcomed and encouraged. A SGMA Portal account is not necessary to submit comments.

 

 Basin Local ID (if applicable) Counties Covered Public Comment Period EndDate
Tracy N/A Alameda

San Joaquin

4/23/2022
East Bay Plain N/A Alameda

Contra Costa

4/23/2022
East Contra Costa N/A Contra Costa 4/23/2022
Wyandotte Creek N/A Butte 4/23/2022
Colusa N/A Colusa

Glenn

Yolo

4/23/2022
Corning N/A Glenn

Tehama

4/23/2022
Owens Valley N/A Inyo

Mono

4/23/2022
Big Valley (5-004) N/A Modoc

Lassen

4/23/2022
Santa Monica N/A Los Angeles 4/23/2022
Santa Clara River Valley East N/A Los Angeles 4/23/2022
Turlock N/A Merced

Stanislaus

4/23/2022
East Side Aquifer N/A Monterey 4/23/2022
Forebay Aquifer N/A Monterey 4/23/2022
Upper Valley Aquifer N/A Monterey 4/23/2022
Monterey N/A Monterey 4/23/2022
San Gorgonio Pass N/A Riverside 4/23/2022
Elsinore Valley N/A Riverside 4/23/2022
Temescal N/A Riverside 4/23/2022
Yucaipa N/A Riverside

San Bernardino

4/23/2022
Cosumnes N/A Amador

Sacramento

4/23/2022
Solano N/A Sacramento

Solano

Yolo

4/23/2022
San Pasqual Valley N/A San Diego 4/23/2022
San Luis Obispo Valley N/A San Luis Obispo 4/23/2022
Sierra Valley N/A Plumas

Sierra

4/23/2022
Butte Valley N/A Siskiyou 4/23/2022
Sonoma Valley N/A Sonoma 4/23/2022
Petaluma Valley N/A Sonoma 4/23/2022
Santa Rosa Plain N/A Sonoma 4/23/2022
Fillmore N/A Ventura 4/23/2022
Piru N/A Ventura 4/23/2022

For questions or more information, email sgmps@water.ca.gov.

 

Public Forum on Groundwater Management Planned

On September 14th, local agencies including the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) are inviting the public to participate in a groundwater workshop. Members of the public will have an opportunity to learn about how their groundwater is being managed sustainably. To learn more about BBID’s role in groundwater management, click here.

Click here to register for next week’s event. The event flyer is below.

GroundwaterWorkshop39.14.21

Public Review Sought for Groundwater Sustainability Plan Sections

The East Contra Costa Groundwater Sustainability Working Group is preparing a Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan (Plan) and seeks input on Sections 3 and 4 of the Plan. 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). The Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) is a member of the Subbasin.

The Groundwater Sustainability Agencies received comments on Sections 1 and 2 of the Draft Plan during the summer of 2020. We are now asking for input on Sections 3 and 4 that discuss groundwater conditions, including a Hydrological Conceptual Model and historical, current and projected water supply. Sections 3 and 4 are found at the link below, or email groundwaterinfo@dcd.cccounty.us and request the documents. Comments are due on Friday, January 15, 2021.

Link to document and other information: https://www.eccc-irwm.org/about-sgma

For additional SGMA inquiries, to provide more detailed comments, or to be included on the email list, please send an email. Or, click here for more information about how BBID is working to sustainably manage groundwater.

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

Byron-Bethany Irrigation District Acts to Protect Local Groundwater

Byron, CA (March 21, 2017) – At its regular board meeting Tuesday morning, the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) took action to secure the sustainability of local groundwater resources. Following a public hearing, BBID’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to become a groundwater sustainability agency (GSA) for a portion of the Tracy Subbasin, which underlies the District’s service area in portions of Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Alameda Counties. As a GSA, the District will work cooperatively with surrounding agencies, cities and counties to manage groundwater in a responsible, sustainable manner.

The formulation of GSAs is required under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). SGMA, which became state law in 2014, directs local agencies to work together to develop local groundwater sustainability plans in basins and sub-basins classified by the state as medium or high priority. The Tracy Subbasin has been classified as medium priority by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). Under SGMA, if agencies are unwilling or unable to act, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) can intervene and set guidelines for local groundwater management.

“This initial step begins what will be a lengthy, but important process to sustainably manage local groundwater,” said BBID GM Rick Gilmore. “Though groundwater is not a main source of supply for our growers, we’re acting proactively to ensure these management decisions are made at the local level by those who know the conditions best.”

As part of the resolution approved by the BBID Board, the District intends to develop groundwater sustainability plans for portions of the Tracy Subbasin within District boundaries in Contra Costa and San Joaquin Counties, and both within and outside BBID’s boundaries in Alameda County. The Board voted to enter a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work with multiple agencies within Contra Costa County. In San Joaquin County, the District expects to collaborate with the City of Tracy to resolve overlaps in proposed GSA service areas. In Alameda County, the District plans to pursue an agreement with Zone 7 Water Agency, in which Zone 7 would formally delegate to BBID its authority to manage groundwater within Zone 7’s service area.

Under SGMA regulations, GSA formation is required no later than June 30th, 2017. Groundwater sustainability plans for the Tracy Subbasin must be completed by January of 2022.