1. SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT (SGMA)
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY FORMATION
Public Hearing
May 9, 2017
Gil Borboa, P.E., Water Resources Manager, City of Santa Monica

2. Sustainable Management
“Management and use of groundwater in a manner that can be maintained during the planning and implementation horizon without causing undesirable results.”
CWC § 10721(u)

3. Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) are empowered to:
Develop a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP)
Conduct studies
• Register and monitor groundwater wells
• Require reports of groundwater extraction
• Implement capital projects to meet goals
• Assess fees to cover cost of groundwater management

4. Santa Monica Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency – SMBGSA
Governance Structure
MOU acceptable governance structures
GSA formation restricted to Local Agencies: A local public entity with water supply, water management, or land use responsibilities
Basins are required to have GSA’s covering the entire basin
If part of a basin is not covered, County presumed to be the GSA for the un-covered area

7. Santa Monica Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency
(SMBGSA)
Public Hearings required for Agency formation
LADWP, May 2, 2017
Santa Monica, May 9, 2017
LA County, May 23, 2017
Culver City, May 30, 2017
Beverly Hills, June 13, 2017

8. Key Implementation Dates
Public information meeting for GSA Formation: April 12, 2017
Designated Public Hearings for GSA formation, MOU agencies May/June 2017
Filing of SMBGSA with Dept. of Water Resources due June 30, 2017
Final Groundwater Sustainability Plan due January 31, 2022
Implementation of Plan (Sustainability Achieved) January 31, 2042

9. Recommended Action:
Hold a Public Hearing for the formation of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency for the Santa Monica Groundwater Basin;
Adopt the attached resolution acknowledging the City of Santa Monica’s election to become a Groundwater Sustainability Agency; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding establishing the Santa Monica Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency.