Can Collaborative Groundwater Can Collaborative Groundwater Management Work?Management Work?

The Sonoma County ExperienceJay JasperseSonoma County Water AgencyApril 9, 2010

OverviewOverview

SCWA/USGS Groundwater Assessment Program

Sonoma Valley Groundwater Management Program

Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Management Activities

Lessons Learned

Alexander Valley Study Area Completed 2006 Santa Rosa Valley

Study Area Initiated 2005

Sonoma Valley Study Area Completed 2006

Petaluma Valley Study Area

Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) Water Transmission System

SCWA/USGS Sonoma SCWA/USGS Sonoma Valley Groundwater StudyValley Groundwater Study

Key Findings 1975-2000:

Increased GW pumping from 6,000 to 8,500 AFY

Localized decline of GW levels (-)17,300 AF decrease in storage

Salinity Issues in southern part of valley

Numerical Model – Tool to evaluate data gaps & simulate future conditions

Findings Stakeholder Assessment Findings Stakeholder Assessment – Center Collaborative Policy– Center Collaborative Policy

Water Supply - Important to educate residents about water

No More Regulations – “Deal Killer” for some Groundwater - Not sustainable & quality is a concern Recycled Water – Generally viewed favorably Land Use - Link land use & water supply Diversifying Supply - Strongly supported Information Gathering – Sensitivity related to

confidentiality of well monitoring information

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Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sonoma Valley Groundwater Management Program Management Program

Convened Stakeholder Group in June 2006

• Agricultural alliances, environmental organizations, water purveyors, and residential groundwater users

Groundwater Management Plan Adopted by Sonoma County Water Agency, City of Sonoma & Valley of the Moon Water District in Late 2007

• Non-regulatory and collaborative process with emphasis on local control and management

Currently in Third Year of Implementation

Sonoma Valley -Sonoma Valley -Management StrategiesManagement Strategies

The BAP Identified the Four Management Strategies:

Increased Conservation (Urban, Non-Urban, & Agriculture)

Recycled Water Use to Offset Groundwater Pumping Stormwater Recharge of Groundwater Basin: Multi-

Benefit (Stormwater/Water Supply/Open Space) Conjunctive Use of Winter Russian River Water to

Recharge Groundwater Basin

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Volunteer Groundwater-Level Volunteer Groundwater-Level Monitoring ProgramMonitoring Program

Volunteer well monitoring program twice per year (water levels)

Water quality monitored in some wells by DWR

Coordinated/synchronized monitoring (136 wells)

Developed a Sampling & Analysis Plan and Water-Level Monitoring Guide

Developed Web-based data management system (WEBH2O)

Prioritizing areas where data gaps still exist

Stakeholder Involvement & Stakeholder Involvement & Outreach ActivitiesOutreach Activities

BAP and TAC meetings

Maintain project website

www.sonomacountywater.org/svgrou

Video produced

Panel members brief constituency groups

Press releases/newspaper articles

Water conservation awards

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Programs and StudiesPrograms and Studies

Planned multi-completion monitoring wells (grant)

Recharge area mapping (grant) New Stream Gage - Sonoma Creek Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

on groundwater recharge age-dating study Urban & agricultural conservation (NBWA

grant) Groundwater banking study (Russian River

water) Planned stormwater recharge study

(collaboration with Open Space District) Well Owner’s guide “Slow it, spread it, sink it” guidance

manual

Groundwater Management Groundwater Management Program FundingProgram Funding

• Local Cooperative Funding Agreement– SCWA, City of Sonoma, Sonoma County

Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, VOMWD, SVCSD and County

• DWR Memorandum of Understanding– Facilitation Services Technical Assistance

– Central District Office

Conducted by the Center for Conducted by the Center for Collaborative Policy Collaborative Policy Finalized in January 2010Finalized in January 2010

Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Management Situation AssessmentManagement Situation Assessment

Center for Collaborative PolicyCenter for Collaborative Policy Stakeholder AssessmentStakeholder Assessment

• Impartial Mediators Interviewed 55 Stakeholders Representing 37 Organizations– Agriculture

– Business & Developers

– Conservation & Environmental

– Government (State, County & City)

– Rural Residential Well Owners

– Scientists

– Tribal

– Water Supply & Groundwater Technical People

Findings – Stakeholder Findings – Stakeholder AssessmentAssessment

• Lack of understanding– Groundwater basin and its capacity

– Sustainable yield and cumulative effects of pumping

– Groundwater management & planning

• Technical information needed • Planning is critical, but some are skeptical• Interest group dynamics: low trust • Need to identify rural residential well owner representation

Center for Collaborative Policy Recommendations

Step 1: Convene Santa Rosa Plain Steering Committee

Step 2: Initiate a robust public education on USGS technical study and groundwater planning options

Step 3: Re-assess interest in groundwater planning and identify key representatives

Step 4: Contingent on Step 3, develop a phased-approach to groundwater planning

What Have We Learned?

Start from a solid scientific basis

Invest time and effort in education: science and process

Develop a charter – Roles, responsibilities & dispute resolution Manage Expectations – Perfection will not be achieved

Consequence of “No Action”

“Low hanging fruit”

Alignment with State & regional programs/policies

Community ownership is key!

Local Groundwater

8493 AF57%

Agricultural Groundwater

6113 AF72%

Urban Groundwater

774 AF9%

Domestic Groundwater

1606 AF19%

Imported Water5317 AF

36%

Recycled Water1000 AF

7%

Total Water Use: 14,810 Acre-Feet

Total Water Use Groundwater Use

Sonoma Valley Water Use - Sonoma Valley Water Use - Year 2000Year 2000

Historical & Projected Historical & Projected Groundwater Use - Sonoma ValleyGroundwater Use - Sonoma Valley