Loading...
The URL can be used to link to this page
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Home
My WebLink
About
11 Consideration of Resolution 2019-04 Regarding the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
rAgendaItem#I11TRUCKEEDONNERPubticUtilityDistrictACTIONTo:BoardofDirectorsFrom:StevenPonceletDate:February06,2019Subject:ConsiderationofResolution2019-04RegardingtheSustainableGroundwaterManagementAct(SGMA)AlternativeSubmittal1.WHYTHISMATTERISBEFORETHEBOARDTheBoardhasresponsibilityforstewardshipofgroundwaterresourcesanditisintheBoard’spurviewtoadoptDistrictResolutions.2.HISTORYTheDistricthasbeenpartneringwithotherlocalagenciesandstakeholdersfordecadestoeffectivelymanagetheMartisValleyGroundwaterBasin(MVGB)waterresources.ThisincludesmorerecentlyparticipatingintheFederalTruckeeRiverBasinstudy(withtheassociatedMartisValleygroundwatermodel)andtheadoptionofthe2013MartisValleyGroundwaterManagementPlan(GMP).TheGMPwasadoptedcollaborativelywithNorthstarCommunityServicesDistrict(NCSD)andPlacerCountyWaterAgency(PCWA)alongwitharobuststakeholdergroupconsistingofland-useagencies,othergovernmentstakeholders,environmentalgroups,andotherinterests.ImplementationoftheGMPframework,however,washaltedearlyafteradoptionduetothepassageoftheSustainableGroundwaterManagementActof2014(SGMA).SGMArequireslocalwaterandland-useagenciestoachieve“sustainablegroundwatermanagement”byimplementingvariouselementsoftheactandappliedtobasinsprioritizedasMediumorhigher.Atthetime,theMVGBwasaMediumPrioritybasin.CompliancewiththeactcouldrequireaformationofaGroundwaterSustainabilityAgency(GSA)byJune30,2017,andadoptionofaGroundwaterSustainabilityPlan(GSP)byJanuary31,2022.Theserequirementsweredeterminedtobeveryexpensiveandnotappropriateforasustainable,well-managedbasinliketheMVGB.However,an“AlternativeSubmittal”wasanoptionprovidedinSGMA(CWC10733.6(b)(3))forbasinsthatwerebelievedtoalreadysatisfytheobjectivesofSGMA.TheAlternativeSubmittalwasfavorableintermsofavoidingcosttoprepareaGSPanddidnotrequiretheformationofaGSA.Toexercisethisoption,theAlternativeSubmittalmustprovideinformationthatdemonstratesabasinhasoperatedwithinitssustainableyieldoveraperiodofatleast10years.AlternativeSubmittalswererequiredtobesubmittedtotheCalifonriaDepartmentofWaterResources(DWR)byJanuary1,2017. TheMVGBwasbelievedtobeagoodcandidateforanAlternativeSubmittal.ThebasinhadbeenproactivelymanagedfordecadesandnowhadthenewGMP,hadadocumentedhistoryofsustainability,andtheTruckeeRiverOperatingAgreement(TROA)providesanexistingregulatoryframework.TheMVGBdidnotexperienceanywatersupplyshortagesoranylong-termadverseeffectsduringthehistoricdroughtinthe2010’s.TheDistrict,NCSD,andPCWA,aspartnersingroundwatermanagement,reachedouttothelocalland-useagencies(TownofTruckee,NevadaCounty,andPlacerCounty)tocoordinateaplanforcomplyingwithSGMA.Allsixagencies(localSGMAagencies)agreedthataMVGBSGMAAlternativeSubmittalwasappropriate.TheDistricttooktheleadinpreparingtheAlternativeSubmittal.AttheAugust3,2016boardmeeting,theDistrictawardedacontracttoGElConsultants,registeredhydrogeologistsinCalifornia,tocertifythattheMVGBhadoperatedwithinsustainableyieldforatleast10-years.GElConsultantswasthesamefirmwhopreviouslyestimatedsustainableyieldfortheMVGB,wereverywellrespected,andhadfirsthandexperienceworkingintheMVGBandwithSGMA.GElConsultantsreviewoftheextensiveamountofavailabledataandscienceontheMartisValleydemonstratedthattheMVGBhasoperatedwithinsustainableyieldasdefinedbySGMAforaperiodofatleast25years.Inaddition,theestimatedsustainableyieldis22,000acre-feetperyear(AFY),currentannualextractionswereontheorderof7,000AFY,andbuildoutprojectionswereestimatedtobe13,000AFY.TheDistrict,attheNovember2,2016Boardmeeting,conductedaworkshoptoreviewtherequirementsofSGMAandtheproposaltocomplywithanAlternativeSubmittal.KeygoalsoftheSGMAAlternativeSubmittalincludedcontinuedlocalstewardshipoftheMVGB,compliancewithSGMA,andminimizingunnecessarycostsandregulatoryburdens.StakeholderoutreachwasconductedandapublicmeetingwasheldonNovember14,2016.TomeettherequirementsoftheSGMAAlternativeSubmittal,thelocalSGMAagenciescreatedaMemorandumofAgreement(MOA)toimplementthecommitmentsmade.TheMOAidentifieddutiesofthecollectivegroup,whichincludedmonitoring,annualreportingtoDWR,five-yearrenewalswithDWR,andpublicoutreach.TheMOAprovidedforbudgetingbetweenthesixparties,anadministeringmanagertoleadtheimplementationefforts,andaManagementCommitteeofonerepresentativeandanalternatefromeachparticipatingagency.TheDistrict’sPublicInformationandStrategicAffairsManagerwasselectedbythesixlocalSGMAagenciestobetheadministeringmanagerandtheDistrictwastheleadagencyfortheMVGBSGMAAlternativeSubmittal.TheAlternativeSubmittalincludedthefinalGElConsultantsreportwhichdemonstratedeligibilitybasedonoperationofthebasinwithinitssustainableyieldasdefinedbySGMA.TheBoard,attheDecember6,2016DistrictBoardmeeting,approvedtheMOAandadoptedDistrictResolution2016-16whichapprovedtheMVGBSGMAAlternativeSubmittalanddirectedstafftosubmittheSubmittaltoDWRbeforetheJanuary1,2017deadline.TheMVGBAlternativeSubmittalwassubmittedtoDWRinlateDecember,2016.InAprilof2018,despitenoformalresponseontheMVGBSGMAAlternativeSubmittal,theDistrictsubmittedtoDWRthefirstAnnualReportrequiredundertheSGMAAlternativeSubmittal.ItwasbelievedbytheMVGBlocalSGMAagenciesthattheAlternativeSubmittalhadastrongchanceofacceptancebyDWR duetothestrongscientificevidencesupportingawellmanaged,sustainablebasin.3.NEWINFORMATIONDWRhashadtheMVGBSGMAAlternativeSubmittalforovertwoyears,hastakennoaction,andthelastwordwasthattheywouldnotactbeforetheendofMarch,2019attheearliest.However,DWRisrequiredbylawtoreviewbasinprioritizationeveryfiveyearsandtheyconductedthe2018SGMABasinPrioritization.BasinprioritizationclassifiesgroundwaterbasinsintoprioritiesbasedonscoringforcomponentsidentifiedinCaliforniaWaterCodeSection10933(b)andthepriorityofbasinsdeterminestheprovisionsthatapplyfortheCaliforniaStatewideGroundwaterElevationMonitory(CASGEM)andSGMAprogramsinabasin.Basinsunder9,000AFYarecategoricallyprioritizedasVeryLowunlessthereisevidenceofundesirableresultsasdefinedbySGMA.InthepreviousDWRbasinprioritizationin2013,priortothepassageofSGMA,theMVGBwhichwasat7,000AFYwasnotgivenaVeryLowpriorityduetoacommentinthe2013MVGBGMPaboutpotentialsurfacewater/groundwaterinteractionsinoneareaofthebasin.DWRtookthisminorcommentandextrapolateditbasin-widewithacommentof‘Strong’suilacewater/groundwaterinteractions.ThisresultedintheMVGBbeingdrawnintoscoringwiththeresultofMediumPriority(justabovetheLowPrioritycut-off).UponreviewofthisresultafterthepassageofSGMAin2014,TheLocalSGMAAgenciesbelievedthatthecommentsonsurfacewater/groundwaterinteractionweretakenoutofcontextandthatthescoringresults,hadtheybeenreviewedmoreclosely,mighthaveresultedinaLowPrioritydesignation.WhenDWRreleasedthedraft2018SGMABasinPrioritizationresultsinmid-2078,theMVGBwasagaindesignatedMediumPriority.AgaintheMVGBwasnotdesignatedVeryLowduetoanewscoringprocesswhichaddressedthesixSGMAundesirableresultswhichincludesdewateringofsurfacewater.Thistime,howeveranddueinparttofrequentinteractionswithDWRstafftoprovideaccurateinformationalongwiththeMVGBSGMAAlternateSubmittal,theMVGBdidnotgetpulledintoscoringfordewateringofsuriacewaterbutforwaterqualitywhichisanotherSGMAundesirableresult.Infact,theMVGBwasgroupedwiththeworstwaterqualitybasinsintheStatewhichincludebasinsinthecentralvalleyandintheState’smostpopulatedareas.ThelocalSGMAagenciesworkedwithDWRstafftounderstandthisresultanddiscoveredthattheDWRscoringmethodology,whichuseddocumentedexceedancesoftheStatesMinimumContaminantLevels(MCL)toassignpoints,hadtheMVGBwithover300MCLexceedancesinalmostthelast20-years.InvestigationoftheseMCLexceedances,however,indicatedthattheywerealmostentirelyMCLexceedancesfornaturallyoccurringarsenicandthevastmajoritywerefromoneisolatedwell(Hirschdale)whichislocatedontheextremeeasternportionoftheMVGB,serves20connections,andwhichtheDistricttreatsfornaturallyoccurringunderapermitwiththeCaliforniaStateWaterResourcesControlBoard.ItisimportanttonotethatalloftheseMCLexceedanceswereforsourceanddonotrepresentthequalityofwaterdeliveredbytheDistricttoourcustomers.Inthiscase,TheHirschdalewellmeetsalldrinkingwaterqualitystandardsafterpassingthroughanadvancedwatertreatmentsysteminstalledandoperatedbytheDistrictinaccordancewithallStatelawsandregulations.Inshort,theMVGBhasexcellent waterqualitytheDWRtookoneisolateddatapoint,failedtounderstandtheirowndata,andextrapolatedaconclusionacrosstheentirebasin.TheLocalSGMAAgencies,afternumerousinteractionswithDWRstall,liledlormalcommentsonthedraltprioritizationresultswithDWR.DWRonJanuary4,2019,alterapublicprocess,postedthelinal2018SGMABasinPrioritizeresultsontheollicialSGMAwebsite(https://water.ca.gov/Programs/Groundwater-Management/Basin-Prioritization),withtheMVGB(BasinNo.6-67)reprioritizedIromaMediumPrioritytoaVeryLowPrioritydesignation.DWRhadremovedthepointforwaterqualityandMVGBwasautomaticallyVeryLowPriorityandnolongerrequiredtocomplywiththeprovisionsofSGMA.DWRstalldidcalltheDistricttonotifyusofthechangeinprioritizationanddidindicatethattheDistrictandourpartnersdohavetheoptiontowithdrawtheMVGBSGMAAlternativeSubmittal.ThishasbeenconfirmedbyreviewbythelocalSGMAagenciesstallandlegalcounsels.TheMVGBlocalwaterandland-useagencieshavehadnumerousmeetingstodiscussthechangeinprioritizationandallwishtocontinuetocooperateinsustainablegroundwatermanagement.Thereisagreementthatthe2013MartisValleyGMPwithsupportofalargestakeholdergroup,alongwithTROA,provideamorelocalandeflicientprocesstoeffectivelymanagetheMVGB.AlloftheDistrict’slocalwaterandland-useagencypartnershaveexpressedtheirdesirefortheDistricttoformallywithdrawtheMVGBSGMAAlternativeSubmittalfromDWR.WithdrawalrequiresBoardadoptionofDistrictResolution2019-04whichisAttachment1.4.FISCALIMPACTTheremovalofthecomplexandveryexpensiveSGMAregulatoryburdenwillhavesignificantsavingforDistrictandourpartnersgoingforward.5.RECOMMENDATIONAdoptResolution2019-04withdrawingtheMartisValleyGroundwaterBasinSustainableGroundwaterManagementActAlternativeSubmittal.I‘t1/StevenPonceletMichaelD.HolleyPublicInformation&StrategicAffairsDirectoiGeneralManager ResolutionNo.2019-04andL’TRUCKEEDONNER..PublicUtilityDistrictWITHDRAWINGTHEMARTISVALLEYGROUNDWATERBASINSUSTAINABLEGROUNDWATERMANAGEMENTACTALTERNATIVESUBMITTALWHEREAS,theSustainableGroundwaterManagementAct(“SGMA”),asamendedandcodifiedinCaliforniaWaterCode§10720,etseq.,appliestoallgroundwaterbasinsintheStateofCalifornia;WHEREAS,ThelegislativeintentofSGMAistoprovidesustainablemanagementofgroundwaterbasins,toenhancelocalmanagementofgroundwater,toestablishminimumstandardsforthesustainablegroundwatermanagement,andtoprovidelocalgroundwateragencieswiththeauthorityandthetechnicalandfinancialassistancenecessarytosustainablymanagegroundwater;andWHEREAS,SGMArequires“sustainablegroundwatermanagement”forallgroundwaterbasinsorsub-basinsthataredesignatedashigh-ormedium-prioritybasinsbytheDepartmentofWaterResources(“Department”)intheDepartment’sreportentitled“California’sGroundwater:Bulletin118”(“Bulletin118”);andWHEREAS,TheMartisValleyGroundwaterBasin(“MVGB”)islocatedinbothNevadaCountyandPlacerCountyandhasbeendesignatedbytheDepartmentasBasinNo.6-67andwaspreviouslydesignatedamedium-prioritybasin;andWHEREAS,SGMAdefinesa“localagency”asalocalpublicagencythathaswatersupply,watermanagement,orlanduseresponsibilitieswithinagroundwaterbasin;andWHEREAS,thereareatotalofsixqualifyinglocalagencieswithjurisdictionoverMVGB,whichincludetheCountyofNevada,theCountyofPlacer,theTownofTruckee,theTruckeeDonnerPublicUtilityDistrict,thePlacerCountyWaterAgencyandtheNorthstarCommunityServicesDistrict,collectivelyreferredtoas“Partners”andwhowishedtocooperateinsustainablegroundwatermanagementandcompliancewithSGMA;andWHEREAS,SGMAprovidesthatanyqualifyinglocalagencyorcombinationoflocalagenciesfullyoverlyingagroundwaterbasinhavediscretiontobecomeagroundwatersustainabilityagency(“GSA”)forthatbasin;andWHEREAS,SGMArequiredthateither:(1)agroundwatersustainabilityplan(“GSP”)bedevelopedandimplementedbytheGSA;OR(2)ifalocalagencyorcombinationoflocalagenciesbelievesthatanalternativetoaGSPsatisfiestheobjectivesofSGMA,thelocalagencymaysubmitthealternativetotheDepartmentforevaluationandassessmentnolaterthanJanuary1,2017,andeveryfiveyearsthereafter;andWHEREAS,thePartnersbelievedthatanalternativetoaGSPwouldsatisfytheobjectivesofSGMAbecausethebasinhadbeenoperatedwithinsustainableyieldforatleastthelast10years,afactthathasbeendocumentedbyahydrogeologistregisteredintheStateofCalifornia;andWHEREAS,thePartnerswishedtocollectivelysubmitanalternativetitledMartisValleyGroundwaterBasinSustainableGroundwaterManagementActAlternativeSubmittal(“AlternativeSubmittal”)totheDepartment;and WHEREAS,theTruckeeDonnerPublicUtilityDistrictledthepreparationoftheAlternativeSubmittal,withinputandreviewbyallPartnersandahydrogeologistregisteredintheStateofCalifornia;andWHEREAS,theAlternativeSubmittalleveragedtheMartisValleyGroundwaterManagementPlanadoptedin2013,theTruckeeRiverOperatingAgreement,enactedunderFederalLawtorestrictandmonitorsurfacewaterandgroundwateruse,andabodyofscientificworkthatdemonstratestheexistenceofsustainablegroundwatermanagementinMVGBforatleast25years;andWHEREAS,theAlternativeSubmittaladdressedthesixundesirableresultsthathavebeenidentifiedbytheDepartmentandisbelievedbythePartnerstobefunctionallyandsubstantiallycompliantwithSGMAandapplicablerequirementsoftheDepartment;andWHEREAS,basedontheabovefindings,thePartnerssubmittedtheAlternativeSubmittaldatedDecember22,2016totheDepartmentbeforetheduedatesetbySGMAofJanuary1,2017,and,subjecttoapprovaloftheDepartment,intendedtocontinuesustainablegroundwatermanagementoftheMVGBinaccordancewiththeAlternativeSubmittalandwithoutformationofaGSAorpreparationofaGSP;andWHEREAS,theDepartmentisstillreviewingtheAlternativeSubmittalandhastakennoaction;andWHEREAS,theDepartmentconducted2018SGMABasinPrioritizationasrequiredbylaw;andWHEREAS,basinprioritizationclassifiesCalifornia’s517groundwaterbasins(basins)intoprioritiesbasedoncomponentsidentifiedintheCaliforniaWaterCodeSection10933(b)andthepriorityofbasinsdeterminestheprovisionsthatapplyfortheCaliforniaStatewideGroundwaterElevationMonitoring(CASGEM)andSustainableGroundwaterManagementAct(SGMA)programsinabasin;andWHEREAS,afterapublicprocesstheDepartmentpostedthefinal2018SGMABasinPrioritizationresultsontheofficialSGMAwebsite(https:llwater.ca.gov/Programs/GroundwaterManagement/Basin-Prioritization),withtheMVGB(BasinNo.6-67)reprioritizedfromaMediumPrioritytoaVeryLowPrioritydesignation;andWHEREAS,VeryLowPrioritybasinsarenotrequiredtocomplywiththeprovisionsofSGMA;andWHEREAS,thePartnerswishtocontinuetocooperateinsustainablegroundwatermanagementandbelievethatMartisValleyGroundwaterManagementPlanadoptedin2013withsupportofalargestakeholdergroup,alongwiththeTruckeeRiverOperatingAgreementenactedunderFederalLaw,provideamorelocalandefficientprocesstoeffectivelymanagetheMVGB;andWHEREAS,eachoftheotherPartnershasexpresseditsdesirefortheTruckeeDonnerPublicUtilityDistricttoformallywithdrawtheAlternativeSubmittalfromtheDepartment.NOW,THEREFORE,THEBOARDOFDIRECTORSOFTHETRUCKEEDONNERPUBLICUTILITYDISTRICTDOESRESOLVEASFOLLOWS:Section1.TheAlternativeSubmittalisnolongerrequiredand,onbehalfofallPartners,itisdirectedthattheAlternativeSubmittalbeformallywithdrawnfromtheDepartment.PASSEDANDADOPTEDbytheBoardofDirectorsatameetingdulycalledandheldwithintheDistrictonthesixthdayofFebruaryof2019bythefollowingrollcallvote:AYES:Directors:Aguera,Bender,Finn,Laliotis,andPresidentEllis.NOES:None. ABSENT:None.TRUCKEEDONNERPUBLICUTILITYDISTRICTBobEllis,PresidentATTEST:MichaelD.Holley,DistrictClerk