The State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Water Resources will hold a series of informational meetings at the dates below to discuss implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and to answer questions from the public:
- October 21st – Valley Glen, CA: Los Angeles Valley College Campuss Center Building Monarch Hall, 5800 Fulton Ave, Valley Glen, CA 91401
- October 22nd – Visalia, CA: 210Life, 210 W. Center Ave, Visalia, CA 93291
- October 27th – Sacramento, CA: CalEPA Building, Coastal Hearing Room, 1001 I St, Sacramento, CA 95814 (meeting will also be available via Webcast)
All meetings will have sessions from:
- 1 to 4 pm: Technical sessions for local public agencies and organizations
- 6 to 8 pm: Public forums for groundwater users and the general public
The technical sessions will focus on:
- Local agency requirements regarding Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) formation, groundwater sustainability, and public involvement
- Discussing the status of SGMA implementation within the region
- Identifying technical and financial assistance available from the state, including Prop 1 and other funding sources
- Understanding the implications of state intervention in the absence of local action
The public forums for groundwater users and the general public are designed for residential well owners, groundwater users, and other interested members of the public.
The public forums will address:
- The public stakeholder role in SGMA implementation
- Local public agency requirements regarding GSA formation and public involvement
- Drought management and groundwater sustainability
- SGMA and water rights
- State involvement under SGMA, including technical and financial assistance and state intervention
Proposition 1, passed by voters in November 2014, provides DWR with $100 million for sustainable groundwater management planning and related projects. The proposition also provides substantial funding for groundwater cleanup, storage projects, and other actions that will help local agencies sustainably manage groundwater. For more information, please visit DWR’s website.
Information on the State Water Board’s Proposition 1 funds is available at the State Water Board’s Division of Financial Assistance (DFA) Proposition 1 website.