REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  March  14, 2017
CATEGORY:  Regular - Public Works-3.

SUBJECT:

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act – Redding Basin

Supervisorial District No. :  All

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Pat Minturn, Public Works Director, (530) 225-5661

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Pat Minturn, Public Works Director

RECOMMENDATION

Take the following actions:  (1)  Receive a report on a conceptual Redding Groundwater Sustainability Agency Agreement; and (2) provide direction to staff regarding Groundwater Sustainability Agency formation in the Redding Basin.

SUMMARY

Board direction is requested regarding Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) formation for the Redding Groundwater Basin.

DISCUSSION

The Redding Groundwater Basin (Basin) underlies the South Central Urban Region (Attachment A).  The Basin is robust and under-utilized.  In the 1990’s, eleven local water purveyors formed the Redding Area Water Council (RAWC).  They prepared a Groundwater Management Plan and related documents.

In 2014, the Governor signed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) shall be formed and Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) shall be prepared for medium and high priority subbasins.  GSA powers are set forth in Water Code Sections 10725 & 10726 (Attachment B).  The Redding Area Basin is divided into six subbasins, three of which are in Shasta County.  The Anderson and Enterprise subbasins are separated by the Sacramento River and have a medium priority status.  The Millville subbasin is very low priority.

Local agencies may file as GSAs within their respective service areas until June 30, 2017.  Counties have a unique role on behalf of private pumpers outside of purveyor service areas and may need to step in for any purveyors who decline to file as a GSA. The State will step in to manage any remaining areas.  The Basin is stable but GSAs could influence groundwater use and land uses by extension.

On October 18, 2016, the Board directed staff to pursue a united GSA with the other major GSA-eligible entities in the Basin (Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District (ACID), Bella Vista Water District, City of Anderson, City of Redding, Clear Creek Community Services District). Negotiations have yielded a conceptual agreement (Attachment C).

Cottonwood Water District, Centerville Community Services District, Igo-Ono Community Services District and the Western Shasta Resource Conservation District (WSRCD) could potentially file as GSAs.  All four agencies have declined to proceed.  The three water districts wish to have the County represent their territories with updates and input.  Western Shasta RCD has offered to assist in the development and implementation of the GSP.

The Board has emphasized Basin sustainability, property rights and local control.  The County will presumably file in some capacity.  Board direction is requested regarding the common GSA proposal.  The Board may consider an individual County filing in the event that the purveyor’s proposals falter as the legislated deadline approaches.

ALTERNATIVES

The Board may decline to participate in Basin planning.  State oversight would likely ensue.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

All of the eleven RAWC members were initially involved in discussions.  The focus group has narrowed to six (ACID, Anderson, Bella Vista, Clear Creek, Redding, and the County).  Staff has conferred with the Department of Water Resources, Northern California Water Association and other relevant agencies.  County Counsel will review any proposed MOU, JPA or GSA filing.  The recommendation has been reviewed by the County Administrative Office.

FINANCING

SGMA compliance costs are potentially significant (>$1,000,000).  Water Agency resources may be severely strained to meet this mandate.  State grants may fund some SGMA compliance costs.  There is no General Fund impact.