HomeMy WebLinkAboutState Water Resources Control Board - GSA Formation Deadline ADMINISTRATION
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Mato Water Resources Control Board
April 20, 2017
The Honorable Board of Supervisors
c/o Ashley Snyder
Assistant Clerk of the Board
The County of Butte
26 County Center Dr.
Oroville, CA 96966
R.E.: GROUNDWATER' SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY (GSA) FORMATION DEADLINE
Dear Supervisors:
This is a reminder that the deadline to form groundwater sustainability agencies (GSRs) is
fast approaching. Beginning July 1, 2017, the State Water Resources Control Board
(State Water Board or Board) can intervene in groundwater basins that contain unmanaged
areas. An unmanaged area is a part of a basin that is not managed by a GSA, because: 1) no
local agency has formed a. GSA; or 2) there are GSA notifications that have not taken effect
because of overlap in the management areas proposed by local agencies. Extractors in
unmanaged areas will be required to report their groundwater extractions to the State Water
Board.
As of April 6, 2017, there were basins in Butte County that contained unmanaged areas. To
prevent state intervention, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires that
these basins be managed, in their entirety, by a GSA or a collection of coordinated GSAs by
June 30, 2017. A map showing the location of any unmanaged areas in the County is included
as an attachment to this letter. We understand that local agencies are working to meet this
deadlline, that coverage is changing rapidly, and that the County may already be involved in
these efforts. This letter is intended to ensure that County leaders and constituents understand
the impacts of state intervention. Current information on. GSA formation is available at
http://sgma.water.ca.gov/portal.
There are several options Butte County can take to eliminate unmanaged areas and prevent
state intervention. The County can choose to become a GSA for unmanaged areas by
accepting its presumptive role described by Water Code section 10724. Alternatively, the
County could partner with other local public agencies and develop a multi-agency GSA. SGMA
is written to encourage counties to become the GSA for unmanaged areas in their basin, but it
does not require them to do so. Accordingly, a county should notify the Department of Water
Resources (DWR) whether or not it intends to become the GSA for any unmanaged areas
within its jurisdiction prior to July 1, 2017, or as soon as possible thereafter. Additional
information on the County's presumptive role as the GSA for unmanaged areas can be found in
the FACS document included with this letter.
Fi Hr IA MAoarMS, r,ra,vW I TeHr,As HOWARD, C-XrCUTNP. DIRECTOR
1001 1 Street,Scmr;a,me lo,CA 95814 1 Maadling Address:Mary,Box 100, Sacramento, 0A 95812-0100 1 wvwvuw,%v iter�io ircis.c a.gov
1 I r,rNl_( IPPHM
The Honorable Board of Supervisors - 2 - April 20, 2017
Butte County
After the deadline has passed, if Butte County declines to be the GSA for an unmanaged area,
groundwater users in that unmanaged area will be required to report their groundwater
extractions directly to the State Water Board and pay associated fees. The State Water Board
can also begin the process to designate the entire basin as a probationary basin. Probationary
status may lead the State Water Board to develop an interim plan that directly manages
groundwater extractions in the basin.
The State Water Board is committed to supporting local groundwater management efforts, and
helping local agencies succeed before state intervention is necessary. If intervention does
occur, the State Water Board's goal will be to return the basin to local management as soon as
local authorities can demonstrate their capability and willingness to manage the basin
sustainably.
Included with this letter is information about the state intervention process.
If you have any questions, please contact the Groundwater Management Program at
Samuel.Boland-Br_ie_n_@waterboards.ca.gov or 916-322-9633.
Sincerely,
Sam Boland-Brien
Chief, Groundwater Management Program
State Water Resource Control Board
Enclosures
cc:
Via email
Dennis Schmidt, Public Works
Chuck Thistlephwaite, Planning Department
Paul Hahn, County Administrator
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