SGMA Alternative Groundwater Sustainability Plan Bridge Document for the Mission Creek Subbasin

Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) | December 29th, 2016

SGMA and Underrepresented Farmers

Clean Water Action | May 31st, 2022

Groundwater resources play a vital role in maintaining environmental sustainability in California. During a typical year, approximately 40 percent of the state’s total

Groundwater resources play a vital role in maintaining environmental sustainability in California. During a typical year, approximately 40 percent of the state’s total water supply comes from groundwater. During dry years, groundwater contributes 60 percent (or more) of the state’s total supply, and serves as a critical buffer against the impacts of drought and climate change. This paper responds to concerns expressed by groundwater sustainability advocates that underrepresented farmers have not been included in the development and implementation of Groundwater SustainabilityPlans (GSPs) under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014. It contains results from the evaluation of 14 Groundwater Sustainability Plans (12 from the San Joaquin Valley and 2 from the Central Coast) with a focus on stakeholder engagement and projected impacts of groundwater decline on underrepresented farmers.

SGMA Best Management Practice: Groundwater Monitoring Protocols, Standards, and Sites

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | December 23rd, 2016

The objective of this Best Management Practice (BMP) is to assist in the development of Monitoring Protocols. The California Department of Water Resources (the Department

The objective of this Best Management Practice (BMP) is to assist in the development of Monitoring Protocols. The California Department of Water Resources (the Department or DWR) has developed this document as part of the obligation in the Technical Assistance chapter (Chapter 7) of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) to support the long-term sustainability of California’s groundwater basins. Information provided in this BMP provides technical assistance to Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and other stakeholders to aid in the establishment of consistent data collection processes and procedures. In addition, this BMP can be used by GSAs to adopt a set of sampling and measuring procedures that will yield similar data regardless of the monitoring personnel. Finally, this BMP identifies available resources to support the development of monitoring protocols. This BMP includes the following sections: Objective. A brief description of how and where monitoring protocols are required under SGMA and the overall objective of this BMP. Use and Limitations. A brief description of the use and limitations of this BMP. Monitoring Protocol Fundamentals. A description of the general approach and background of groundwater monitoring protocols. Relationship of Monitoring Protocols to other BMPs. A description of how this BMP is connected with other BMPS. Technical Assistance. Technical content providing guidance for regulatory sections. Key Definitions. Descriptions of definitions identified in the GSP Regulations or SGMA. Related Materials. References and other materials that provide supporting information related to the development of Groundwater Monitoring Protocols.

SGMA Best Management Practice: Hydrogeologic Conceptual Model

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | December 23rd, 2016

The objective of this Best Management Practice (BMP) is to assist in the use and development of hydrogeologic conceptual models (HCM). The California Department of Water

The objective of this Best Management Practice (BMP) is to assist in the use and development of hydrogeologic conceptual models (HCM). The California Department of Water Resources (the Department or DWR) has developed this document as part of the obligation in the Technical Assistance Chapter (Chapter 7) of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) to support the long-term sustainability of California’s groundwater basins. Information provided in this BMP is meant to provide support to Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) when developing a HCM in accordance with the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Emergency Regulations (GSP Regulations). This BMP identifies available resources to support development of HCMs. This BMP includes the following sections: Objective. The objective and brief description of the contents of this BMP. Use and Limitations. A brief description of the use and limitations of this BMP. HCM Fundamentals. A description of HCM fundamental concepts. Relationship of HCM to other BMPs. A description of how the HCM relates to other BMPs and is the basis for development of other GSP requirements. Technical Assistance. A description of technical assistance to support the development of a HCM and potential sources of information and relevant datasets that can be used to further define each component. Key Definitions. Definitions relevant for this BMP as provided in the GSP and Basin Boundary Regulations and in SGMA. Related Materials. References and other materials that provide supporting information related to the development of HCMs.

SGMA Best Management Practice: Modeling

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | December 23rd, 2016

The objective of this Best Management Practice (BMP) is to assist with the use and development of groundwater and surface water models. The California Department of Water

The objective of this Best Management Practice (BMP) is to assist with the use and development of groundwater and surface water models. The California Department of Water Resources (the Department or DWR) has developed this document as part of the obligation in the Technical Assistance chapter (Chapter 7) of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) to support the long-term sustainability of California’s groundwater basins. Information in this BMP provides technical assistance to Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and other stakeholders on how to address modeling requirements outlined in the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Emergency Regulations (GSP Regulations). This BMP identifies available resources to support the development of groundwater and surface water models. This BMP includes the following sections: 1. Objective. The objective and outline of the contents of this BMP. 2. Use and Limitations. A description of the use and limitation of this BMP. 3. Modeling Fundamentals. A description of fundamental modeling concepts. 4. Relationship of modeling to other BMPs. A description of how modeling relates to other BMPs and is a tool used to develop other GSP requirements. 5. Technical Assistance. A description of technical assistance for the development of a model, potential sources of information, and relevant datasets that can be used to further define model components. 6. Key Definitions. Definitions relevant for this BMP as provided in the GSP Regulations, Basin Boundary Regulations, and SGMA. 7. Related Materials. References and other materials related to the development of models.

SGMA Best Management Practice: Monitoring Networks and Identification of Data Gaps

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | December 23rd, 2016

The objective of this Best Management Practice (BMP) is to assist in the development of Monitoring Networks and Identification of Data Gaps. The California Department of

The objective of this Best Management Practice (BMP) is to assist in the development of Monitoring Networks and Identification of Data Gaps. The California Department of Water Resources (the Department or DWR) has developed this document as part of the obligation in the Technical Assistance chapter (Chapter 7) of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) to support the long-term sustainability of California’s groundwater basins. Information provided in this BMP provides technical assistance to Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and other stakeholders to aid in the development of a monitoring network that is capable of providing sustainability indicator data of sufficient accuracy and quantity to demonstrate that the basin is being sustainably managed. In addition, this BMP is intended to provide information on how to identify and plan to resolve data gaps to reduce uncertainty that may be necessary to improve the ability of the GSP to achieve the sustainability goal for the basin. This BMP includes the following sections: 1. Objective. A brief description of how and where monitoring networks are required under Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and the overall objective of this BMP. 2. Use and Limitations. A brief description of the use and limitations of this BMP. 3. Monitoring Network Fundamentals. A description of the general approach and background of groundwater monitoring networks. 4. Relationship of Monitoring Network to other BMPs. A description of how this BMP is connected with other BMPs. 5. Technical Assistance. Technical content of BMP providing guidance for regulatory sections. 6. Key Definitions. Descriptions of those definitions identified in the GSP Regulations, SGMA, or Basin Boundary Regulations. 7. Related Materials. References and other materials that provide supporting information related to the development of Groundwater Monitoring Networks.

SGMA Best Management Practice: Water Budget

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | December 23rd, 2016

The objective of this Best Management Practice (BMP) is to assist the use and development of water budgets. The Department of Water Resources (the Department or DWR) has

The objective of this Best Management Practice (BMP) is to assist the use and development of water budgets. The Department of Water Resources (the Department or DWR) has developed this document as part of the obligation in the Technical Assistance Chapter (Chapter 7) of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) to support the long-term sustainability of California’s groundwater basins. Information provided in this BMP provides technical assistance to Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and other stakeholders on how to address water budget requirements outlined in the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Emergency Regulations (GSP Regulations). This BMP identifies available resources to support development, implementation, and reporting of water budget information. This BMP includes the following sections: 1. Objective. The objective and brief description of the contents of this BMP. 2. Use and Limitations. A brief description of the use and limitations of this BMP. 3. Water Budget Fundamentals. A description of fundamental water budget concepts. 4. Relationship of Water Budgets to other BMPs. A description of how the water budget BMP relates to other BMPs and how water budget information may be used to support development of other GSP requirements. 5. Technical Assistance. A description of technical assistance to support the development of a water budget, potential sources of information, and relevant datasets that can be used to further define each component. 6. Key Definitions. Definitions relevant for this BMP as provided in the GSP Regulations, Basin Boundary Regulations, SGMA, and DWR Bulletin 118. 7. Related Materials. References and other materials that provide supporting information related to the development of water budget estimates.

SGMA Best Management Practices Framework

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | December 22nd, 2017

Chapter 7 of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), in Water Code Section 10729(d), states that, “By January 1, 2017, the department shall publish on its in

Chapter 7 of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), in Water Code Section 10729(d), states that, “By January 1, 2017, the department shall publish on its internet Web site best management practices for the sustainable management of groundwater.” Prior to the completion of a best management practices (BMPs) document, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) was required to adopt regulations for evaluating groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs), the implementation of GSPs, and coordination agreements by June 1, 2016 (GSP Regulations), and Alternatives.

SGMA’s First Groundwater Market: An Early Case Study from Fox Canyon

Nature Conservancy | May 1st, 2019

In 2014, amid California’s most recent drought, the state passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). This new law regulates groundwater at scale for th

In 2014, amid California’s most recent drought, the state passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). This new law regulates groundwater at scale for the first time, requiring the state’s largest source of stored water to be managed for long-term resilience. SGMA delegates the responsibility of achieving sustainable groundwater management by 2040 to local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs). GSAs must achieve sustainability for their groundwater basins by developing and implementing Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs). Balancing groundwater basins to achieve sustainability will require increasing water supply to the basin and/or decreasing water demand. The Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency (FCGMA), in western Ventura County, is the first GSA to pursue a groundwater market as a tool to decrease water demand when implementing its GSP. This white paper outlines FCGMA’s experience—the steps taken and lessons learned—in developing the first groundwater market to emerge under SGMA. It is a combined effort of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), California Lutheran University’s (CLU’s) Center for Economic Research and Forecasting (CERF) and FCGMA, with the support of local growers and the Farm Bureau of Ventura County (Farm Bureau). This document is meant to serve as a resource for GSAs and other public agencies, organizations, practitioners and stakeholders involved in water resource management and contemplating the creation of groundwater markets to meet SGMA’s sustainability mandate. This report focuses on the design and testing of the Fox Canyon groundwater market; a companion report will likely follow to evaluate the performance and share additional lessons learned once the market has launched.

Sharing Groundwater: A Robust Framework and Implementation Roadmap for Sustainable Groundwater Management in California

Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability (Duke University) | January 1st, 2017

This working paper offers a framework and roadmap for development of a robust groundwater-sharing system consistent with California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management

This working paper offers a framework and roadmap for development of a robust groundwater-sharing system consistent with California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which requires communities in priority areas to prepare groundwater sustainability plans. The proposed system draws on global experience. Robustness is its signature feature. Opportunities are maximized by a suite of robust local governance, allocation, and administrative arrangements. Additionally, the proposed system incentivizes innovation, stimulates investment, and facilitates low-cost adjustment to changes in groundwater demand. Among the dynamic components underlying this sharing system are a share register that records ownership and transfers of ownership in the basin’s available shares. These unit shares are fungible; each represents a proportional stake in access to the basin’s groundwater resources. Volumetric allocations are made in proportion to the number of shares held during determined periods throughout the water year. These allocations are recorded in bank-like water accounts, affording account holders an efficient means to manage their resource but also ensuring that they cannot use more than is available. Unused water can be saved for later use. At the start of the transition to the new system, users are given an allocation buffer so that they have flexibility and time to adjust. Those who want to can make quick non-contestable trades at low cost.