California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | January 28th, 2022
Summary
The Department of Water Resources (Department) is required to evaluate whether a submitted groundwater sustainability plan (GSP) conforms to specific requirements of the
The Department of Water Resources (Department) is required to evaluate whether a submitted groundwater sustainability plan (GSP) conforms to specific requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), is likely to achieve the sustainability goal for the basin covered by the GSP, and whether the GSP adversely affects the ability of an adjacent basin to implement its GSP or impedes achievement of sustainability goals in an adjacent basin. (Water Code 10733.) The Department is directed to issue an assessment of the GSP within two years of its submission. (Water Code 10733.4.)
SGMA allows for multiple GSPs implemented by multiple groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) and coordinated pursuant to a single coordination agreement that covers the entire basin to be an acceptable planning scenario. (Water Code 10727.) In the San Joaquin Valley – Kern County Subbasin (Subbasin), five separate GSPs were prepared by 11 GSAs pursuant to the required coordination agreement. This Statement of Findings explains the Department’s decision regarding the multiple GSPs covering the Subbasin submitted jointly by the multiple GSAs. Collectively, the five GSPs and the coordination agreement are referred to as the Plan for the Subbasin. Individually, the GSPs include the following:
• Kern Groundwater Authority Groundwater Sustainability Plan (KGA GSP) – prepared by the Kern Groundwater Authority (KGA) GSA, Semitropic Water Storage District (SWSD) GSA, Cawelo Water District (CWD) GSA, City of McFarland GSA, Pioneer GSA, and West Kern Water District (WKWD) GSA.
o Divided into 15 management areas, 22 sub-management areas.
• Kern River Groundwater Sustainability Plan (Kern River GSP) – prepared by the Kern River GS and Greenfield County Water District GSA.
o Divided into three management areas, 11 sub-management areas.
• Buena Vista Water Storage District GSA Groundwater Sustainability Plan (BV GSP) – prepared by the Buena Vista Water Storage District (BV) GSA.
o Divided into two management areas.
• Olcese Groundwater Sustainability Agency Groundwater Sustainability Plan (Olcese GSP) – prepared by the Olcese Water District (OWD) GSA.
• Henry Miller Water District Groundwater Sustainability Plan (Henry Miller GSP) – prepared by the Henry Miller Water District (HMWD) GSA.
Department management has reviewed the enclosed Staff Report, which recommends that the deficiencies identified should preclude approval of the Plan. Based on its review of the Staff Report, Department management is satisfied that staff have conducted a thorough evaluation and assessment of the Plan and concurs with, and hereby adopts, staff’s recommendation and all the corrective actions provided. The Department thus deems the Plan incomplete based on the Staff Report and the findings contained herein.