The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and DWR’s Role in Sustainable Groundwater Management California Irrigation Institute 2016 Conference January 25, 2016 David Gutierrez CA Department of Water Resources

What is Groundwater and why is it Important? 38% of total water supply (statewide average) Estimated 60% of total supply during drought years Many communities are 100% reliant upon GW Average Data Groundwater Use

Adverse Impacts

California Water Action Plan & Water Balance

Framework Local’s Role State’s Role Applicability Definitions Establish GSA Powers & Authorities Sustainability Plans Deadlines Develop guidance or rules Provide Technical and Planning Assistance State Evaluation and Assessment State Intervention Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014

Basin Prioritization Requires GW sustainability plans in high- and medium- priority basins Does not require adjudicated basins

SGMA Milestones for Success Groundwater Sustainability Agencies – Formation by June 30, 2017 – Only local agencies can be GSAs Groundwater Sustainability Plans – January 31, 2020 for critically overdrafted basins – January 31, 2022 for all other high and medium priority basins – Multiple GSPs in a basin must coordinate Groundwater Sustainability – 20-year implementation period – 50-year planning horizon 7

Undesirable Results: Significant and unreasonable… Sustainable Yield Sustainability Goal Sustainable Groundwater Management Lowering of Groundwater Levels Reduction of Groundwater Storage Water Quality Degradation Seawater Intrusion Land Subsidence Depletions of Surface Water Groundwater Sustainability 8

In all triggering events, intervention is the result of a failure by the locals to create a GSA, or to adopt and adequately implement a GSP. State Water Resources Control Board Intervention “Backstop” AfterCause of Intervention June 30, 2017No GSA Jan. 31, 2020In critically overdrafted basins, no GSP or GSP is inadequate Jan. 31, 2022In other basins, no GSP or GSP is inadequate and basin is in long-term overdraft Jan. 31, 2025GSP is inadequate and significant depletions of interconnected surface waters

DWR’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Program DWR’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Program Develop a Framework for Sustainable Groundwater Management Provide Statewide Technical Assistance Provide Statewide Planning Assistance Assist State and GSA Alignment and provide Financial Assistance Provide Interregional Assistance

SGM Immediate Actions 11 Develop Emergency Regulations - Basin Boundary Revisions Draft Regulations Posted (July 2015) Public Comments Closed (Sept 2015) Regulations Completed (November 2015) Update Basin Prioritization Used existing - January 2015 Re-prioritization following basin boundary revisions in 2017 Develop Emergency Regulations - (Groundwater Sustainability Plans) Working with advisory groups /public meetings Draft Regulations Tentative (Feb 2016) Final Regulations Due - June 2016 Identify Basins Subject to Critical Conditions of Overdraft Draft list posted (Aug 2015) Public Comments (Sept 2015) Completed (January 2016) Groundwater Sustainability Agency Formation Senate Bill 13 – Requires Complete Notifications and No Overlapping GSAs Facilitation Services 18 Applications

Basin Boundary Regulations ScientificJurisdictional 12 Agency C Agency A Agency B Article 3 Develop Emergency Regulations - Basin Boundary Revisions Draft Regulations Posted (July 2015) Public Comments Closed (Sept 2015) Regulations Completed (November 2015)

Basins Subject to Critical Overdraft Identify Basins Subject to Critical Conditions of Overdraft Completed January 2016

SGMA Basin Prioritization 14 Update Basin Prioritization Used existing - January 2015 Re-prioritization following basin boundary revisions in 2017

GSP Regulations 15 Governance Coordination Land Use Sustainability Goal (Sustainable Yield, SGM) Measurable Objectives & Undesirable Results Monitoring Plan Implementation & Reporting Alternative GSPs & Fringe Areas Governance & Coordination “Who is managing & participating" SGM Planning “How will GW be managed & measured" Evaluation "Reporting, Evaluation, & Adaptive Management" Equivalent GSPs Basin Setting “What are the current conditions” All Topics 6 - Coordination Agreements 7 - State Agency Coordination 8 - Water Budgets and Coordination 3 - Land Use & County Involvement 1 - Measurable Objectives 2- Pre SGMA Conditions and UR’s 8 - Water Budgets and Coordination 10 - Adaptive Mgt. and Focus Areas 1 - Measurable Objectives 2- Pre SGMA Conditions and UR’s 9 - Data Collection, Mgt., & Reporting 10 - Adaptive Mgt. and Focus Areas 4 - Alternative GSP 5 - Boundaries, Overlapping & Unmanaged Areas 2- Pre SGMA Conditions and Undesirable Results OverviewPotential Regulation Content Stakeholder Input State of the Basin Draft – For Discussion Purposes Only (Subject to Change) Governance Coordination

Undesirable Results Governance Coordination Land Use State of the Basin Sustainability Goal Measurable Objectives & Undesirable Results Monitoring Plan Implementation & Reporting Alternative Plans & Frings Areas 16 Draft – For Discussion Purposes Only (Subject to Change)

Questions When properly managed, groundwater resources will help protect communities, farms, and the environment against the impacts of prolonged dry periods and climate change. California Water Action Plan 2014 State: DWR: SWRCB: