Section 10932 Of Chapter 3. Groundwater Monitoring Program From California Water Code >> Division 6. >> Part 2.11. >> Chapter 3.
10932
. (a) Monitoring entities shall commence monitoring and
reporting groundwater elevations pursuant to this part on or before
January 1, 2012.
(b) For purposes of reporting groundwater elevations pursuant to
this part, and subject to subdivision (c), a monitoring entity may
use alternate monitoring techniques for a basin or subbasin, instead
of monitoring groundwater elevations directly through monitoring
wells, if the basin or subbasin meets any of the following
conditions:
(1) Groundwater elevations are unaffected by land use activities
or planned land use activities, or naturally occurring total
dissolved solids within the groundwater preclude the use of that
water.
(2) It is underlying land that is wholly owned or controlled,
individually or collectively, by state, tribal, or federal
authorities, and groundwater monitoring information is not available
or was requested from, but not provided by, the state, tribal, or
federal authorities.
(3) It is underlying an area where geographic or geologic features
make monitoring impracticable, including, but not limited to, a
basin or subbasin that is inaccessible to well-drilling equipment.
(c) Before using an alternate monitoring technique pursuant to
subdivision (b), a monitoring entity shall submit to the department a
report, signed by a professional geologist registered pursuant to
Section 7850 of the Business and Professions Code, setting forth the
factual basis and supporting documentation demonstrating that the
basin or subbasin meets any of the conditions set forth in
subdivision (b). Upon receiving the report, the department shall
determine, in its discretion, whether the monitoring entity may use
an alternate monitoring technique, and the alternate monitoring
techniques that may be used, for the basin or subbasin. For a basin
or subbasin that the department has determined is eligible to use an
alternate monitoring technique, the department shall determine
whether information provided by the monitoring entity using the
alternate monitoring technique is sufficient to comply with the
monitoring and reporting requirements of subdivision (a).
(d) (1) Within 60 days of finding that a basin or subbasin no
longer meets any of the conditions set forth in subdivision (b), the
monitoring entity shall report that finding to the department. Not
later than 12 months after providing that report, the monitoring
entity shall commence monitoring and reporting groundwater elevations
using monitoring wells.
(2) A failure to comply with the report requirements of paragraph
(1) shall constitute noncompliance with the monitoring and reporting
requirements of subdivision (a).
(e) Every three years following an initial determination by the
department pursuant to subdivision (c), a monitoring entity shall
submit sufficient information, as may be determined by the
department, establishing its continued eligibility to use alternate
monitoring techniques in accordance with this section.
(f) A determination by the department pursuant to this section
shall be final and conclusive.
(g) For purposes of this section, an "alternate monitoring
technique" may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the
following, as the department may determine to be appropriate:
(1) Hydrologic records for the basin or subbasin.
(2) Well permits or similar reports from within the area overlying
the basin or subbasin.
(3) Aerial photographs.
(4) Remote sensing data.