HomeMy WebLinkAbout13 Groundwater Management Plan Agenda Item #
TRUCKEE DONNER
Public Utility District
Memorandum
To: Board of Directors
From: Neil Kaufman
Date: November 14, 2007
Subject: Grant Application to fund a Basin-Wide Groundwater Management Plan
1. WHY THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE BOARD
The Water Department is working with Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) and Northstar
CSD to prepare a grant application for submittal to the California Department of Water
Resources (DWR) for funding of a basin-wide Ground Water Management Plan. PCWA is
acting as the lead agency for this grant application and for the Plan update process.
There are preparation costs of approximately $10,000 for the grant application. This cost would
be shared by PCWA, Northstar CSD and the District. Staff needs approval from the Board for
the District's to spend funds for the District's share of the application cost, to participate in the
grant process and if grant is approved, participate in the Ground Water Management Plan
Update.
2. HISTORY
The District has a Ground Water Management Plan that was completed in 1995 by Hydro-
Search Inc. The 1995 plan covered only the area within the District's service territory.
AB 303 is the Local Groundwater Assistance Management Act of 2000. From DWR:
"The Local Groundwater Management Assistance Act of 2000 (California Water
Code (CWC) Section 10795 et seq. (Assembly Bill 303)) was enacted to provide
grants to local public agencies to conduct groundwater studies or to carry out
groundwater monitoring and management activities. Priority for grant funding is
given to local public agencies that have adopted a groundwater management plan
(GWMP) and demonstrate collaboration with other agencies in the management of
the affected groundwater basin."
In October 2001, the District, PCWA and Northstar CSD submitted a similar grant application to
fund a basin-wide Ground Water Management Plan. The District served as the lead agency for
that application. The District did not receive a grant. In the interim, the District, PCWA and
Northstar CSD have been monitoring and evaluating the water withdrawals from the Martis
Valley Basin on a continual basis.
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3. NEW INFORMATION
The staffs of the three agencies have identified the need for more formal methods to evaluate
the performance of the groundwater basin. These should be documented and incorporated into
a basin-wide Ground Water Management Plan.
This study should be eligible for grant funding under AB 303. A new grant application must be
prepared and submitted. The submittal deadline for this grant cycle is December 11, 2007.
PCWA agreed to take the lead in preparing the Grant Application and estimated a total cost of
$10,000 for its preparation.
4. SOURCE OF FUNDING
The planned funding source for this study is rates.
5. RECOMMENDATION
The Board authorize the General Manager to spend up to $5,000 in the preparation of the grant
application jar, AB 303 funds for a Ground Water Management Plan Update and to prepare a
letter of articipat' for submi I with the grant application. .
a
Ed Taylor, Water Utility Manager John Ulric eWm GM
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