The document provides an overview of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in California and the development of Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs). It discusses key SGMA milestones and requirements, including that GSAs must notify DWR prior to developing GSPs. It outlines DWR's existing and new online systems for submitting GSP Initial Notifications. The new system will allow online submission and provide public access to submitted notifications.

1. Sustainable
Management
Criteria BMP
December 2017
California Department of Water Resources
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program

2. California’s Major Groundwater
Milestones
2
1992 2002 2013 2014 2015 2020 2022
CASGEM
Program
2003
AB 3030
SB 1938 CA Water
Action Plan
GSPs
(Non-Overdraft Basins)
GSPs
(Basins in
Overdraft)
SGMA
2009 2010
Voluntary Groundwater
Management
(Non-Regulatory)
 Service Area Planning
 Variable Levels of
Implementation
 Variable Authority
 Grant Incentives
Required Groundwater
Management
(Regulatory)
 Entire Basin Planning
 Required Implementation
 New GSA Authorities
 State Backstop (SWRCB)
2040/2042
Achieve
Sustainability
GoalAB 359

3. SGMA Overview
“A central feature of these
bills is the recognition that
groundwater management
in California is best
accomplished locally.“
Governor Jerry Brown, September
2014
Local Control
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program

4. SGMA Overview
4
Groundwater Sustainability Plans
Required for High and Medium
Priority Basins by 2020/22
Sustainability Groundwater Basins

5. SGMA Due Dates and Achievements
• Initial Basin Prioritization: §10723.4
– Completed by January 31, 2015
• Regulations for Modifying Groundwater
Basin Boundaries: §10722.2
– Completed by January 1, 2016
• Identification of Critically Overdrafted
Basins: §12924
– Completed January 2016, Updated
October 2016
• Groundwater Sustainability Plan and
Alternatives Regulations: §10733.2
– Completed May 18, 2016
• Modifying Basin Boundaries (Round 1)
– Completed October 11, 2016
• Water Available for Replenishment:
§10729(c)
– Completed in January, 2017
2015 and 2016
• Bulletin 118: §12924
– Interim Update due January 2017;
– Comprehensive Update due 2020
• Best Management Practices: §10729(d)
– Completed by January 1, 2017
 Revised Basin Prioritization
– Early 2018
 Alternatives Reviews
– Begins January 1, 2017
 Groundwater Sustainability
Agency Formation: §10723
– Due by June 30, 2017
 Prop 1 – SGM Grant Program (Round 2)
– Late 2017
 Modifying Basin Boundaries (Round 2)
– January-December 2018
2017 and 2018

6. Outline
• Overview of DWR’s SGMA Best
Management Practice (BMP)
and Guidance Documents
• Discussion of the Sustainable
Management Criteria BMP
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 6

7. Best Management
Practices and
Guidance Documents

8. Legislation
Water Code 10729
(d)(1) By January 1, 2017, the department shall publish on its
Internet Web site best management practices for the sustainable
management of groundwater
(2) The department shall develop the best management practices
through a public process involving one public meeting conducted at
a location in northern California, one public meeting conducted at a
location in the San Joaquin Valley, one public meeting conducted at
a location in southern California, and one public meeting of the
California Water Commission.

9. BMPs vs. GSP Regulations
• Role of BMPs to provide clarification, technical assistance, and
examples to help GSAs develop elements of GSPs
• BMPs (technical assistance) vs. GSP Regulations (requirements)
• GSP Regulations
• Sec. 352.2 (Monitoring
Protocols)
• Sec. 352.4 (Installation
of Monitoring Sites)
(BMP #2 - Monitoring
Networks and Identification
of Data Gaps)
(BMP #1 - Monitoring
Protocols, Standards, and Sites)

10. BMP Survey Responses

11. BMP Survey Response
Counts
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45

12. Existing BMPs and Guidance
Documents
BMPs (Dec. 2016)
1. Monitoring Protocols,
Standards, and Sites
2. Monitoring Networks and
Identification of Data Gaps
3. Hydrogeologic Conceptual
Model
4. Water Budget
5. Modeling
Guidance Documents
• Preparation Checklist (Dec. 2016)
• GSP Annotated Outline (Dec. 2016)
• Engagement with Tribal
Governments (Draft June 2016)
• Stakeholder Communication and
Engagement (Draft June 2016)
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 14
http://www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/bmps.cfm

13. Sustainable
Management Criteria

14. Article 5. Plan Contents
• 1. Administrative Information
• §354.4. General Information
• §354.6. Agency Information
• §354.8. Description of Plan Area
• §354.10. Notice &
Communication
• 2. Basin Setting
• §354.14. Hydrogeologic
Conceptual Model
• §354.16. Groundwater Conditions
• §354.18. Water Budget
• §354.20. Management Areas
• 3. Sustainable Management
Criteria
• §354.24. Sustainability Goal
• §354.26. Undesirable Results
• §354.28. Minimum Thresholds
• §354.30. Measurable Objectives
• 4. Monitoring Networks
• §354.34. Monitoring Network
• §354.36. Representative Monitoring
• §354.38. Assessment & Improvement
• §354.40. Reporting Monitoring Data to
the Department
• 5. Projects and Management
Actions
• §354.44. Projects & Management
Actions

15. Undesirable Results and
Sustainability Indicators
17
Chronic lowering of groundwater levels indicating a significant and unreasonable
depletion of supply if continued over the planning and implementation horizon….
Significant and unreasonable reduction of
groundwater storage
Significant and unreasonable seawater
intrusion
Significant and unreasonable degraded
water quality, including the migration of
contaminant plumes that impair water
supplies
Significant and unreasonable land
subsidence that substantially interferes with
surface land uses
Depletions of interconnected surface waterthat have significant and unreasonable
adverse impacts on beneficial uses of the surface water

16. Preliminary Activities
• Understand the Basin Setting
• Hydrogeologic Conceptual Model BMP
• Modeling BMP
• Water Budget BMP
• Inventory Existing Monitoring Programs
• Monitoring Protocols, Standards, and Sites BMP
• Monitoring Networks and Identification of Data Gaps
BMP
• Engage Interested Parties in the Basin
• Engagement with Tribal Governments Guidance
Document
• Stakeholder Communication & Engagement Guidance
Document

17. Assess Sustainability
Indicators
• Start by assessing all six sustainability indicators
• Default position should be that all six apply
• Individual sustainability indicators can be removed from consideration only
after demonstrating that they do not exist and are not likely to occur
• For each indicator, consider the conditions that would represent
significant and unreasonable
• Local decision based on local conditions and concerns
• Later, these will be translated into quantitative undesirable results
• Consider the use of management areas (optional)
• Develop initial representative monitoring sites
• A subset of all monitoring sites in a basin where minimum thresholds and
measurable objectives will be set
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 19

18. Minimum Threshold
• Quantitative value representing conditions at a monitoring site
that, when exceeded individually or in combination with other
minimum thresholds, may cause an undesirable result in the basin
• Set for each representative monitoring site
• Set for each sustainability indicator
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 20

19. Minimum Thresholds
Each minimum threshold must be supported by documentation:
1. information and criteria
2. relationship between the minimum thresholds for each
sustainability indicator
3. avoid causing undesirable results in adjacent basins
4. Affects to the interests of beneficial uses and users of
groundwater or land uses and property interests.
5. state, federal, or local standards
6. quantitatively measured, consistent with the monitoring
network requirements

20. Minimum Threshold –
Declining Groundwater Levels
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 23

21. Lowering of Groundwater
Levels
• What are the:
• historical groundwater conditions in the basin?
• average, minimum, and maximum depths of municipal, agricultural, and
domestic wells?
• screen intervals of the wells?
• adjacent basin’s minimum thresholds for groundwater elevations
• potential impacts of changing groundwater levels on groundwater
dependent ecosystems?
• What impacts do water levels have on pumping costs (e.g., energy cost to lift
water)?
• Which principal aquifer, or aquifers, is the representative monitoring site
evaluating?

22. Groundwater Elevations as a
Proxy
• Groundwater elevation can
be used as a proxy metric
for any sustainability
indicator
• GSP must demonstrate
significant correlation
between groundwater
elevation and the other
metric
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 27

23. Measurable Objectives and
Interim Milestones
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 28

24. Paths to
Sustainability
• Defined locally
• Will vary based on local
conditions and values
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 29

25. Undesirable Result
• Occurs when any of the six sustainability indicators become
significant and unreasonable, as defined locally
• Based on a combination of minimum threshold exceedances
• Must be eliminated within 20 years of GSP implementation
• Some basins will experience undesirable results within the implementation
period
• Must be coordinated for the entire basin
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 30

26. Sustainability Goal
• A goal that culminates in the absence of undesirable results within
20 years of GSP implementation
• Description of goal includes
• Information from basin setting used to establish the goal
• Discussion of measures that will be implemented
• Explanation of how the goal will be achieved within 20 years of GSP
implementation and is likely to be maintained through the planning and
implementation horizon (50 years)
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 31

27. Example
Illustrating the relationship between minimum thresholds,
undesirable results, and sustainable management
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 32

28. Example
• Purpose:
• To illustrate the relationship between minimum thresholds, measurable
objectives, interim milestones, undesirable results, and sustainable
management.
• Disclaimer:
• This example is entirely hypothetical and is intentionally simplified.
Groundwater conditions and local priorities will be more complex in the real
world.
• Do not assume that any numbers used in this simple example will be suitable
for your GSP (e.g., the number of representative monitoring sites used in the
basin or the number of minimum threshold exceedances that lead to an
undesirable result)
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 33

29. Example Description
• A hypothetical basin sets
minimum thresholds, interim
milestones, and measurable
objectives at eight representative
monitoring sites
• For simplification, assume the
criteria are the same at each
representative monitoring site
• Further, the GSA(s) has
determined that minimum
threshold exceedances at three or
more sites is a significant and
unreasonable condition, and is,
therefore, an undesirable result
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 34

30. Example - Scenario 1
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 35
• Groundwater levels at one of eight wells goes below the
minimum threshold for a period of time, which is
consistent with planned interim milestones
• No undesirable result at any point in time
• Sustainable groundwater management (for this indicator)

31. Example - Scenario 2
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 36
• Groundwater levels at three of eight wells go below the minimum
threshold between 2020 and 2030, which is consistent with planned
interim milestones
• Undesirable result from 2020 to 2030; absent from 2030 to 2040
• Sustainable groundwater management (for this indicator)

32. Example - Scenario 3
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 37
• Groundwater levels at three of eight wells below the minimum
threshold from 2020 through 2040, not consistent with planned
interim milestones and measurable objectives
• Undesirable result from 2020 through the end of the 20-year
implementation period
• Basin has not achieved sustainable groundwater management

33. Conclusions
• SMC are the required, quantitative metrics that define sustainable
management of a basin
• SMC are determined locally
• SMC support an outcome-driven process to achieving
sustainability
• DWR staff (headquarters staff, regional coordinators, POCs)
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 39

34. Questions
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 40

35. Comments
Sustainable Groundwater Management Program 41

36. December 11-13, 2017
Department of Water Resources
Groundwater
Sustainability
Plan (GSP) Initial
Notification
Overview

37. Presentation Overview
1. Overview of DWR’s SGMA Portal
2. Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Initial
Notification Background
3. Status of Existing GSP Initial Notifications
4. New GSP Initial Notification Process
5. Next Steps
49

38. DWR’s SGMA Portal
http://sgma.water.ca.gov/portal/
• Clearinghouse for SGMA
Information:
GSA and Local Agency
submitted information
Public Access and
Comments
• Developing additional
features
GSP Initial Notification
50

39. GSP Initial Notification
• GSA’s must notify DWR, in writing, prior to initiating the
development of a GSP (GSP Section 353.6) and provide:
General information about the GSA’s process for developing the GSP
How interested parties may contact the GSA and participate in the
development and implementation of the GSP.
• DWR will accept public comments on proposed GSPs (GSP section
353.8)
• Related SGMA requirements:
The GSA must establish and maintain a list of persons interested in GSP
development (Water Code Section 10723.4)
The GSAs must provide the written statement to the legislative body of any
city and/or county within the GSP’s boundaries (Water Code Section 10727.8)

40. Existing GSP Initial
Notification Submittal
Website
25 Existing GSP Notifications
 Submitted Between
Dec. 2016 and Now
 17 Basins/Subbasins
 22 GSAs
• DWR will work with GSAs
on transfer process
Existing GSP Initial Notifications
http://www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/gsp_in.cfm

41. New GSP Initial
Notification System
GSA Tools
• Submit GSP Initial Notifications
online
Public Tools
• Table of Submitted GSP IN’s
• Map of Submitted GSP IN’s
• Public comments - public
comment can be submitted after
GSP IN is submitted to DWR.
New GSP Initial Notification Process

42. New GSP Initial
Notification System
GSA Tools
• Submit GSP Initial Notifications
online
Public Tools
• Table of Submitted GSP IN’s
• Map of Submitted GSP IN’s
• Public comments - public
comment can be submitted after
GSP IN is submitted to DWR.
New GSP Initial Notification Process
- Public Access -

43. Public Access
55
2. Map of Submitted GSP Notifications1. Table of Submitted GSP Notifications

44. New GSP Initial
Notification System
GSA Tools
• Submit GSP Initial Notifications
online
Public Tools
• Table of Submitted GSP IN’s
• Map of Submitted GSP IN’s
• Public comments - public
comment can be submitted after
GSP IN is submitted to DWR.
New GSP Initial Notification Process
- GSA Access -

45. GSA Access
57
2. GSP Initial Notification FAQ1. Online GSP Initial Notification Form

46. • December 11-13 – DWR public meetings to provide details
on the GSP initial notification process
• December 11 – Sacramento
• December 12 – Visalia
• December 13 – Santa Ana
• January – DWR will hold a GSP notification instructional
webinar
• January – DWR will launch GSP initial notification system
58
GSP Initial Notification Next Steps

47. DWR Contacts & SGMA Resources
59
DWR Regional Offices:• Steven Springhorn
Steven.Springhorn@water.ca.gov
SGMA Portal
• GSP Initial Notification Webpage
www.sgma.water.ca.gov/portal
SGMA Resources
• DWR SGMP Webpage
www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/index.cfm
• Subscribe to DWR SGMP Email List
www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/subscribe.cfm
• DWR Data, Tools, and Reports Webpage
www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/data_tools_reports.cfm

48. DWR Regional Offices
Points of Contact

49. Points of Contact
http://www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/outreach.cfm
The POC is the primary
contact person for the
high and medium
priority basins for SGMA
technical support.

50. EAST BUTTE
WYANDOTTE CREEK
COLUSA
SCOTTS VALLEY
LOS MOLINOS
VINA
WEST BUTTE
DYE CREEK
RED BLUFF
CORNING
TULELAKE
ANDERSON
BIG VALLEY
SIERRA VALLEY
BUTTE VALLEY
ENTERPRISE
EEL RIVER VALLEY
SHASTA VALLEY
SCOTT RIVER VALLEY
SMITH RIVER PLAIN
BIG VALLEY
ANTELOPEBOWMAN
0 25 50 75 100
Miles
Northern Region Office
Points of Contact *
* Subject to Change September 2017
Name
Pat Vellines
Erin Smith
Shane Edmunds
Email Phone
(530) 529-7344
(530) 529-7314
(530) 528-7423
(530) 528-7404
(530) 529-7337
(530) 529-7380
Patricia.Vellines@water.ca.gov
Erin.Smith@water.ca.gov
Shane.Edmunds@water.ca.gov
Debbie Spangler Debbie.Spangler@water.ca.gov
Roy Hull
Michelle Dooley
Roy.Hull@water.ca.gov
Michelle.Dooley@water.ca.gov

51. SOLANO
5-021.66
UKIAH
VALLEY
1-052
SANTA CLARA
2-009.02
SONOMA VALLEY
2-002.02
SUTTER
5-021.62
LIVERMORE
VALLEY
2-010
NORTH
AMERICAN
5-021.64
MARTIS
VALLEY
6-067
NILES CONE
2-009.01
TRACY
5-022.15
COSUMNES
5-022.16
NORTH YUBA
5-021.60
EASTERN
SAN JOAQUIN
5-022.01
EAST BAY PLAIN
2-009.04
SOUTH AMERICAN
5-021.65
NAPA
VALLEY
2-002.01
YOLO
5-021.67
SANTA ROSA
1-055.01
PLAIN
TAHOE SOUTH
6-005.01
PETALUMA
VALLEY
2-001
SOUTH YUBA
5-021.61
0 20 40 6010
Miles
*SUBJECT TO CHANGE
OCTOBER 16, 2017
Name
Groundwater Subbasin Point of Contact
Phone E-mail
Brad Arnold (916) 376-9626 Bradly.Arnold@water.ca.gov
Tad Bedegrew (916) 376-9619 Tad.Bedegrew@water.ca.gov
Paul Wells (916) 376-9656
Christina Boggs-Chavira (916) 376-9623 Christina.boggs@water.ca.gov
Paul.Wells@water.ca.gov
Bryce Russell (916) 376-9620 Bryce.Russell@water.ca.gov
Bill Brewster (916) 376-9657 Bill.Brewster@water.ca.gov
Barrett Kaasa (916) 376-9618 Barrett.Kaasa@water.ca.gov
Alison Tang (916) 376-9631 Alison.Tang@water.ca.gov
Aaron Cuthbertson (916) 376-9622 Aaron.Cuthbertson@water.ca.gov
Low/Very Low Priority Subbasins
North Central Region Office
Points of Contact *

52. CUMMINGS VALLEY
TEHACHAPI VALLEY WEST
SAN LUIS OBISPO VALLEY
LOS OSOS VALLEY
PASO ROBLES AREA
UPPER VALLEY AQUIFER
FOREBAY AQUIFER
KAWEAH
MONTEREY
EAST SIDE AQUIFER
WESTSIDE
LANGLEY AREA
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
AREA
KINGS
BOLSA AREA
HOLLISTER AREA
CHOWCHILLA
MADERA
MERCED
MODESTO
TURLOCK
PURISIMA HIGHLANDS
DELTA-MENDOTA
180/400 FOOT AQUIFER
PAJARO VALLEY
PLEASANT
VALLEY
WHITE WOLF
TULE
KETTLEMAN
PLAIN
KERN COUNTY
SANTA CRUZ
MID-COUNTYSANTA MARGARITA
WEST SANTA CRUZ
TERRACE
TULARE
LAKE
ATASCADERO AREA
SANTA MARIA
CUYAMA VALLEY0 5025
Miles
Critical Overdrafted Basins
Groundwater Basin
Name E-mail Phone
* Tentative: Subject to Change
September 20, 2017
South Central Region Office
Points of Contact *

53. *Subject to change
October 2017
Name Email Phone
Anita Regmi Anita.Regmi@water.ca.gov (818) 549-2340
Brian Moniz Brian.Moniz@water.ca.gov (818) 549-2325
Eddie Pech Eduardo.Pech@water.ca.gov (818) 549-2324
Jack Tung Jack.Tung@water.ca.gov (818) 549-2341
Tim Ross Timothy.Ross@water.ca.gov (818) 549-2345
Southern Region Office
Points of Contact *

54. Thank you for attending the
SMC Public Meeting