SIERRA VALLEY GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLAN CONCEPT DOCUMENT Prepared for: Sierra Valley Groundwater Management District Groundwater Sustainability Agency for the Sierra Valley Groundwater Basin PO Box 88 Chilcoot, CA 96105 http://www.sierravalleygmd.org/ Last Revised: June 1, 2020 Sierra Valley Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan Concept Document Prepared by: Greg Hinds, Hinds Engineering Email: [email protected] Phone: 530-401-0000 Author’s Notes: This document is a compilation of available and relevant information assembled for the purpose of streamlining the development of the Sierra Valley Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (SV GSP). This document also includes draft text for GSP components that are required to be developed through the stakeholder engagement process. Such text is suggested for use as a starting place for said process. This document was originally being prepared as a draft GSP beginning in early 2018 when the prospect of obtaining grant funding for GSP development was uncertain. In early 2019, after a second round of SGMA grant funding was announced and the Sierra Valley Groundwater Management District (SVGMD) began to feel confident they would be able to apply for and receive funding for GSP development, the document title was changed and the approach to the development of this document evolved. It was decided by the SVGMD Directors that continuing to develop this document would be worthwhile, given the uncertainty associated with the timeline of the grant award and the likelihood that the time remaining for GSP development after receiving the award would be relatively limited. It was also decided that the format should be kept consistent with GSP formatting for ease of use of this document in the development of the actual SV GSP. The preparer of the SV GSP may use any of the content herein as they see appropriate, taking into account the following: • Much of the content in this document (especially within Chapters 1 and 2) is objective information from existing referenced documentation and from correspondences with various local individuals and entities. Such objective information is considered reliable, but should not be assumed to be 100% accurate or up-to-date or assumed to be “best available information”. • A certain portion of the content of this document (especially within Chapters 3 and 4) is draft text for GSP components that are required to be developed through the stakeholder engagement process and should be used only to supplement that process. Such content was drafted with the intention to reflect the perspective of the SVGMD Directors to the best ability of the author based on experiences/interpretations while attending monthly SVGMD Board of Director Meetings from 2016 to present. The resulting approach can be summarized as prioritizing clear compliance with SGMA while working toward an effective Plan that will not be overwhelming or cost- prohibitive to implement and will employ adaptive management to achieve sustainability. It is my sincere hope that this document will prove useful in the development of a SGMA-compliant, effective GSP for the SV Subbasin which reflects public values and ensures protection of the resources of the Sierra Valley while preserving the local way of life. Sierra Valley Groundwater Management District i Sierra Valley Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan Concept Document Table of Contents Executive Summary (Reg. § 354.4) .................................................................................................... vii ES 1.0 Introduction Summary................................................................................................... vii ES 1.1 Purpose of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan ......................................................... vii ES 1.2 Sustainability Goal .................................................................................................... viii ES 1.3 Agency Information ........................................................................................................... x ES 1.4 GSP Organization ............................................................................................................. xi ES 2.0 Plan Area and Basin Setting Summary ........................................................................... xi ES 2.1 Description of the Plan Area ............................................................................................ xi ES 2.1 Basin Setting ....................................................................................................................xiii ES 3.0 Sustainable Management Criteria Summary ............................................................... xvi ES 3.1 Sustainability Goal .......................................................................................................... xvi ES 3.2 Measurable Objectives .................................................................................................... xvi ES 3.3 Minimum Thresholds ....................................................................................................xvii ES 3.4 Undesirable Results .......................................................................................................xvii ES 3.5 Monitoring Network ................................................................................................... xviii ES 4.0 Summary of Management and Project Actions to Achieve Sustainability ................ xix ES 5.0 Plan Implementation Summary ..................................................................................... xx 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan ............................................................... 2 1.2 Sustainability Goal (Reg. § 354.24)........................................................................................ 4 1.3 Agency Information (Reg. § 354.6) ....................................................................................... 5 1.3.1 Plan Manager ................................................................................................................. 6 1.3.2 Organization and Management Structure of the GSA ................................................ 6 1.3.3 Legal Authority of the GSA .......................................................................................... 7 1.3.4 Estimated Cost of Implementing the GSP and GSA’s Approach to Meet Costs ...... 8 1.4 GSP Organization .................................................................................................................. 9 2.0 Plan Area and Basin Setting ..................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Description of the Plan Area (Reg. § 354.8).......................................................................... 9 2.1.1 Summary of Jurisdictional Areas and Other Features (Reg. § 354.8 b) .................... 24 2.1.1.1 Plan Area, Exclusive Agencies, and Adjacent Basins ........................................... 24 2.1.1.2 Adjudicated Areas, Other Agencies, and Areas Covered by Alternative ........... 25 2.1.1.3 Jurisdictional Boundaries ........................................................................................ 25 Sierra Valley Groundwater Management District ii Sierra Valley Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan Concept Document 2.1.1.4 Land Use and Water Sources .................................................................................. 26 2.1.1.5 Groundwater Well Density and Groundwater Dependent Communities .......... 29 2.1.2 Water Resources Monitoring and Management Programs (Reg. § 354.8 c, d, e)...... 30 2.1.2.1 Existing Water Resources Monitoring Programs .................................................. 30 2.1.2.2 Existing Water Resources Management Programs ............................................... 33 2.1.2.3 Conjunctive Use Programs...................................................................................... 33 2.1.2.4 Incorporating Existing Water Resources Monitoring and Management Programs to the GSP ................................................................................................................................ 34 2.1.2.5 Limits to Operational Flexibility from Existing Water Resources Monitoring and Management Programs .......................................................................................................... 35 2.1.3 Land Use Elements/Topic Categories of Applicable General Plans (Reg. § 354.8 f) 35 2.1.3.1 Summary of General Plans and Other Land Use Plans ........................................ 35 2.1.3.2 Description of How Land Use Plan Implementation May Change Water Demands or Affect Achievement of Sustainability and How the GSP Addresses Those Effects 37 2.1.3.3 Description of How Implementation of GSP May Affect the Water Supply Assumptions of Relevant Land Use Plans ............................................................................ 37 2.1.3.4 Summary of Processes for Permitting New or Replacement Wells in the SV Subbasin ................................................................................................................................... 37 2.1.3.5 Information Regarding the Implementation of Land Use Plans Outside the SV Subbasin that could Affect the Ability of the GSAs to Achieve Sustainable ...................... 38 2.1.4 Additional GSP Elements