HomeMy WebLinkAbout#18 Truckee River Watershed Groundwater Basin AGENDA ITEM #18
Public Utility District m
MEETING DATE: April 3, 2024
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Steven Poncelet, Public Information Officer
SUBJECT: Considering Approval of an MOU Among the District, Northstar
Community Services District, Placer County Water Agency, and
Truckee River Watershed Council Regarding the Martis Valley
Groundwater Basin.
APPROVED BY:
Brian C. Wright, General Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the General Manager to execute the Memorandum of Understanding
between the District, Northstar Community Services District, Placer County Water
Agency, and Truckee River Watershed Council Regarding the Martis Valley
Groundwater Basin.
BACKGROUND:
The District, Northstar Community Services District, and Placer County Water Agency
(GMP Partners) adopted the Martis Valley Groundwater Management Plan (GMP) in
2013. Given various implications from the State's Sustainable Groundwater
Management Act (SGMA) the plan was not implemented until 2019. Implementation
actions included contracting with a licensed California hydrogeologist yearly, to review
monitoring and other data and provide a report on the status of the basin, along with
hosting an annual stakeholder working group meeting. The GMP also requires a
comprehensive update every 5 years.
The GMP included various Basin Management Objectives (BMO's). Several of the
BMO's include provisions that will serve as the basis for this MOU. They include
• BMO #3 - Collaborate and Cooperate with Groundwater Users and Stakeholders
in the Martis Valley Groundwater Basin;
• BMO #4 - Protect Groundwater Quantity and Quality;
• BMO #5 - Pursue and use the best available science and technology to inform
the decision-making process; and
• BMO #6 - Consider the environment and participate in the stewardship of
groundwater resources.
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The District's Board also recently created a new strategic plan initiative: Local
Watershed Stewardship. This initiative is intended to seek opportunities to expand the
District's stewardship of the Martis Valley Groundwater Basin into the overall
watershed. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Truckee River
Watershed Council, which is active in the overall watershed, is an exciting opportunity
to expand our existing partnerships and position the parties for potential external
funding opportunities.
ANALYSIS AND BODY:
The purpose of this MOU is to codify the cooperation between the Parties and provide a
framework to enable further cooperation and coordination to help meet the mutual goals
of the Parties in stewardship of the Martis Valley Groundwater Basin. The Parties agree
to work together in accordance with the provisions in this MOU. The Parties agree that
this MOU is intended to be a cooperative effort, and not to serve as a formal advisory
body.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
District Code 1 .05.020 Objectives:
1. Responsibly serve the public.
3. Provide reliable and high quality water supply and distribution system to meet
current and future needs.
5. Manage the District in an environmentally sound manner.
District Code 1 .05.030 Goals:
2. Environmental Stewardship: Create a sustainable resilient environment for all our
communities.
3. Engage with our customers and communities in a welcoming and transparent way to
identify opportunities.
4. Take the best thinking to modernize the utility and add value to our communities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this item.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Attachment 1, TRWC-NCSD-PCWA-TDPUD DRAFT MOU
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DRAFT Memorandum of Understanding
Among:
Northstar Community Services District, Placer County Water Agency,Truckee Donner Public Utility
District, and Truckee River Watershed Council
Regarding the Martis Valley Groundwater Basin
DATE
The signatories of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recognize the value of protecting
groundwater and surface water resources related to the Martis Valley Groundwater Basin (MVGB) as
well as working cooperatively to achieve that protection.
The signatories represent public water agencies and a non-profit organization committed to the
protection, restoration, and enhancement of the Truckee River watershed.
This MOU is in reference to ongoing studies related to the identification and assessment of groundwater
dependent ecosystems and interconnected surface waters associated with the MVGB.
Cooperative goals include:
• Ensure long term quality and availability of groundwater in the Martis Valley Groundwater Basin
• Protect groundwater quantity and quality
• Pursue and use the best available science and technology to inform the decision making process
• Collaborate and cooperate with groundwater users and stakeholders in the MVGB
• Consider the environment and participate in the stewardship of groundwater resources.
The signatories of this MOU will:
• Work cooperatively to collect data necessary to further our understanding of the MVGB,
particularly with regard to groundwater dependent ecosystems and interconnected surface
waters
• Share information obtained from technical studies, particularly with regard to groundwater
dependent ecosystems and interconnected surface waters
• Participate in collaborative meetings regarding the MVGB
• Work in good faith to evaluate results of technical studies and understand how new information
could inform management recommendations for the MVGB
This MOU is non-binding. Any party to the MOU may end its participation by providing written notice to
the other signatories.
This MOU is not an obligation of funds and does not control or limit pursuit of funding for any future
project of any signatory.
The parties understand that specific studies, projects, and/or grant funding opportunities may require
additional agreements.
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Mike Staudenmayer, General Manager Date
Northstar Community Services District
Andy Fecko, General Manager Date
Placer County Water Agency
Brian Wright, General Manager Date
Truckee Donner Public Utility District
Lisa Wallace, Executive Director Date
Truckee River Watershed Council
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