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PUBLIC HEARING FOR APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE
REVISED EASTERN SAN JOAQUIN GROUNDWATER SUBBASIN GROUNDWATER
SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
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ended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is reco
mmended that the City Council, acting through its Groundwater Sustainability Agency, conduct a Public Hearing to accept and respond to public comment on the Revised Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin. At the conclusion of the Public Hearing, it is recommended that the City Council approve a resolution to:
1. Approve and adopt
the Revised Groundwater Sustainability Plan and Appendices for the Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin.
2. Authorize t
he Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Authority, its consultants, and the Plan Manager to take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to submit the Revised Groundwater Sustainability Plan to the Department of Water Resources by July 27, 2022, and implement the plan.
3. Authorize t
he Municipal Utilities Department to work in collaboration with other local agencies to implement the projects and programs developed in the Revised Groundwater Sustainability Plan in compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
It is reco
mmended that the City Manager be authorized to take appropriate actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this resolution.
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Summary
On December
10, 2019, the City Council, acting as a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), approved and adopted the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin (Subbasin). The GSP includes detailed physical descriptions of the Subbasin with monitoring, management provisions, and projects to achieve a path to groundwater sustainability within 20 years of adoption. On behalf of the City of Stockton and the other 15 member agencies, the Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Authority (GWA) submitted the GSP to the Department of Water Resources (“DWR”) on January 29, 2020, in compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
DWR complet
ed its review of the GSP, and by letter dated January 28, 2022 (Attachment A), determined the GSP to be incomplete and identified corrective actions.
The GWA, on behalf of the City of Stockton, reviewed the corrective actions and created DRAFT
DRAFT STAFF REPORT
ATTACHMENT A
an approach to addressing the identified deficiencies. The method consisted of creating an analysis of each identified deficiency with a corresponding technical memorandum (TM) to address each deficiency. A total of four (4) TM (Attachment B) were developed to supplement the Eastern San Joaquin GSP as appendices to the GSP submitted in January 2020.
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the Revised GSP for the Subbasin and authorize the GWA to take actions as may be reasonably necessary to submit the Revised GSP to the DWR.
DISCUSSION
Background
The SGMA was signed into law in 2014. The SGMA provides for local or regional management of groundwater resources under the new responsibility of sustainable groundwater agencies. Section 10723 of California Water Code states, “the following agencies created by statute to manage groundwater shall be deemed the exclusive local agencies within their respective statutory boundaries with powers to become a GSA.” The City of Stockton became an approved GSA within its Urban Service Area in 2015.
As described in DWR Bulletin 118, of the 515 basins in California, 127 are medium- or high-priority basins. The Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin is listed as a “high-priority” basin. The SGMA defines sustainable groundwater management and requires that medium- and high-priority basins adopt a GSP by January 2020. On behalf of the City of Stockton and the other 15 member agencies, the GWA submitted the GSP to the DWR on January 29, 2020
The GSP must provide detailed physical descriptions, monitoring, and management provisions, and describe interaction with other plans, such as the City’s general plan.
The GSP must also indicate a path to groundwater sustainability within 20 years of adoption. A sustainable groundwater basin, as described in the SGMA, includes no “groundwater depletions that have significant and unreasonable adverse impacts on beneficial users.”
Present Situation
DWR completed its two-year review of the GSP, and by letter dated January 28, 2022, determined the GSP to be incomplete and deficient. The DWR’s identified corrective actions must be addressed by the GWA within 180 days (July 27 th) of the determination
in the form of an amended GSP. The GSAs are required to hold separate public hearings to consider adoption of the Revised GSP after July 15, 2022, which is no earlier than ninety (90) days from the date of the notice from the GWA (Attachment C).
The GWA, on behalf of the City of Stockton, reviewed the corrective actions and deficiencies outlined in the letter from DWR. In response to the letter, the GWA created DRAFT
DRAFT STAFF REPORT
ATTACHMENT A
an analysis of each deficiency and then created a corresponding technical memorandum (TM) to address each deficiency. A total of four (4) TM (Attachment B) were developed to supplement the Eastern San Joaquin GSP as appendices to the GSP submitted in January 2020, which cover the following subjects:
• Undesirable Result Definition and Projects & Management Actions • Drinking Water & Shallow Wells
• Groundwater Quality Degradation
• Land Subsidence
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the Revised GSP and appendices for the Subbasin and authorize the GWA to take actions as may be reasonably necessary to submit the Revised GSP to the DWR.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The costs for this planning activity are budgeted in the FY 2022-23 Budget in the Water Fund, Administration Division.
Future financial requirements for GSP compliance and implementation under the SGMA will be reviewed and subject to Council approval during the annual budget development process.
There is no impact to the General Fund, or any other unrestricted fund, from this action.
Attachment A – January 28, 2022 Letter from DWR
Attachment B – Technical Memorandums 1, 2, 3 and 4
Attachment C – Eastern San Joaquin Amended GSP 90-Day Notice Final Letter
DRAFT
DRAFT STAFF REPORT
ATTACHMENT A