Chapter 6. Groundwater Sustainability Plans of California Water Code >> Division 6. >> Part 2.74. >> Chapter 6.
(a) A groundwater sustainability plan shall be developed and
implemented for each medium- or high-priority basin by a groundwater
sustainability agency to meet the sustainability goal established
pursuant to this part. The groundwater sustainability plan may
incorporate, extend, or be based on a plan adopted pursuant to Part
2.75 (commencing with Section 10750).
(b) A groundwater sustainability plan may be any of the following:
(1) A single plan covering the entire basin developed and
implemented by one groundwater sustainability agency.
(2) A single plan covering the entire basin developed and
implemented by multiple groundwater sustainability agencies.
(3) Subject to Section 10727.6, multiple plans implemented by
multiple groundwater sustainability agencies and coordinated pursuant
to a single coordination agreement that covers the entire basin.
A groundwater sustainability plan shall include all of the
following:
(a) A description of the physical setting and characteristics of
the aquifer system underlying the basin that includes the following:
(1) Historical data, to the extent available.
(2) Groundwater levels, groundwater quality, subsidence, and
groundwater-surface water interaction.
(3) A general discussion of historical and projected water demands
and supplies.
(4) A map that details the area of the basin and the boundaries of
the groundwater sustainability agencies that overlie the basin that
have or are developing groundwater sustainability plans.
(5) A map identifying existing and potential recharge areas for
the basin. The map or maps shall identify the existing recharge areas
that substantially contribute to the replenishment of the
groundwater basin. The map or maps shall be provided to the
appropriate local planning agencies after adoption of the groundwater
sustainability plan.
(b) (1) Measurable objectives, as well as interim milestones in
increments of five years, to achieve the sustainability goal in the
basin within 20 years of the implementation of the plan.
(2) A description of how the plan helps meet each objective and
how each objective is intended to achieve the sustainability goal for
the basin for long-term beneficial uses of groundwater.
(3) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), at the request of the
groundwater sustainability agency, the department may grant an
extension of up to 5 years beyond the 20-year sustainability
timeframe upon a showing of good cause. The department may grant a
second extension of up to five years upon a showing of good cause if
the groundwater sustainability agency has begun implementation of the
work plan described in clause (iii) of subparagraph (B).
(B) The department may grant an extension pursuant to this
paragraph if the groundwater sustainability agency does all of the
following:
(i) Demonstrates a need for an extension.
(ii) Has made progress toward meeting the sustainability goal as
demonstrated by its progress at achieving the milestones identified
in its groundwater sustainability plan.
(iii) Adopts a feasible work plan for meeting the sustainability
goal during the extension period.
(4) The plan may, but is not required to, address undesirable
results that occurred before, and have not been corrected by, January
1, 2015. Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, a
groundwater sustainability agency has discretion as to whether to set
measurable objectives and the timeframes for achieving any
objectives for undesirable results that occurred before, and have not
been corrected by, January 1, 2015.
(c) A planning and implementation horizon.
(d) Components relating to the following, as applicable to the
basin:
(1) The monitoring and management of groundwater levels within the
basin.
(2) The monitoring and management of groundwater quality,
groundwater quality degradation, inelastic land surface subsidence,
and changes in surface flow and surface water quality that directly
affect groundwater levels or quality or are caused by groundwater
extraction in the basin.
(3) Mitigation of overdraft.
(4) How recharge areas identified in the plan substantially
contribute to the replenishment of the basin.
(5) A description of surface water supply used or available for
use for groundwater recharge or in-lieu use.
(e) A summary of the type of monitoring sites, type of
measurements, and the frequency of monitoring for each location
monitoring groundwater levels, groundwater quality, subsidence,
streamflow, precipitation, evaporation, and tidal influence. The plan
shall include a summary of monitoring information such as well
depth, screened intervals, and aquifer zones monitored, and a summary
of the type of well relied on for the information, including public,
irrigation, domestic, industrial, and monitoring wells.
(f) Monitoring protocols that are designed to detect changes in
groundwater levels, groundwater quality, inelastic surface subsidence
for basins for which subsidence has been identified as a potential
problem, and flow and quality of surface water that directly affect
groundwater levels or quality or are caused by groundwater extraction
in the basin. The monitoring protocols shall be designed to generate
information that promotes efficient and effective groundwater
management.
(g) A description of the consideration given to the applicable
county and city general plans and a description of the various
adopted water resources-related plans and programs within the basin
and an assessment of how the groundwater sustainability plan may
affect those plans.
In addition to the requirements of Section 10727.2, a
groundwater sustainability plan shall include, where appropriate and
in collaboration with the appropriate local agencies, all of the
following:
(a) Control of saline water intrusion.
(b) Wellhead protection areas and recharge areas.
(c) Migration of contaminated groundwater.
(d) A well abandonment and well destruction program.
(e) Replenishment of groundwater extractions.
(f) Activities implementing, opportunities for, and removing
impediments to, conjunctive use or underground storage.
(g) Well construction policies.
(h) Measures addressing groundwater contamination cleanup,
groundwater recharge, in-lieu use, diversions to storage,
conservation, water recycling, conveyance, and extraction projects.
(i) Efficient water management practices, as defined in Section
10902, for the delivery of water and water conservation methods to
improve the efficiency of water use.
(j) Efforts to develop relationships with state and federal
regulatory agencies.
(k) Processes to review land use plans and efforts to coordinate
with land use planning agencies to assess activities that potentially
create risks to groundwater quality or quantity.
(l) Impacts on groundwater dependent ecosystems.
Groundwater sustainability agencies intending to develop
and implement multiple groundwater sustainability plans pursuant to
paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 10727 shall coordinate
with other agencies preparing a groundwater sustainability plan
within the basin to ensure that the plans utilize the same data and
methodologies for the following assumptions in developing the plan:
(a) Groundwater elevation data.
(b) Groundwater extraction data.
(c) Surface water supply.
(d) Total water use.
(e) Change in groundwater storage.
(f) Water budget.
(g) Sustainable yield.
(a) Prior to initiating the development of a groundwater
sustainability plan, the groundwater sustainability agency shall make
available to the public and the department a written statement
describing the manner in which interested parties may participate in
the development and implementation of the groundwater sustainability
plan. The groundwater sustainability agency shall provide the written
statement to the legislative body of any city, county, or city and
county located within the geographic area to be covered by the plan.
The groundwater sustainability agency may appoint and consult with an
advisory committee consisting of interested parties for the purposes
of developing and implementing a groundwater sustainability plan.
The groundwater sustainability agency shall encourage the active
involvement of diverse social, cultural, and economic elements of the
population within the groundwater basin prior to and during the
development and implementation of the groundwater sustainability
plan. If the geographic area to be covered by the plan includes a
public water system regulated by the Public Utilities Commission, the
groundwater sustainability agency shall provide the written
statement to the commission.
(b) For purposes of this section, interested parties include
entities listed in Section 10927 that are monitoring and reporting
groundwater elevations in all or a part of a groundwater basin
managed by the groundwater sustainability agency.
On the April 1 following the adoption of a groundwater
sustainability plan and annually thereafter, a groundwater
sustainability agency shall submit a report to the department
containing the following information about the basin managed in the
groundwater sustainability plan:
(a) Groundwater elevation data.
(b) Annual aggregated data identifying groundwater extraction for
the preceding water year.
(c) Surface water supply used for or available for use for
groundwater recharge or in-lieu use.
(d) Total water use.
(e) Change in groundwater storage.
A groundwater sustainability agency shall periodically
evaluate its groundwater sustainability plan, assess changing
conditions in the basin that may warrant modification of the plan or
management objectives, and may adjust components in the plan. An
evaluation of the plan shall focus on determining whether the actions
under the plan are meeting the plan's management objectives and
whether those objectives are meeting the sustainability goal in the
basin.
A groundwater sustainability agency may adopt or amend a
groundwater sustainability plan after a public hearing, held at least
90 days after providing notice to a city or county within the area
of the proposed plan or amendment. The groundwater sustainability
agency shall review and consider comments from any city or county
that receives notice pursuant to this section and shall consult with
a city or county that requests consultation within 30 days of receipt
of the notice. Nothing in this section is intended to preclude an
agency and a city or county from otherwise consulting or commenting
regarding the adoption or amendment of a plan.
Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public
Resources Code does not apply to the preparation and adoption of
plans pursuant to this chapter. Nothing in this part shall be
interpreted as exempting from Division 13 (commencing with Section
21000) of the Public Resources Code a project that would implement
actions taken pursuant to a plan adopted pursuant to this chapter.