Groundwater sustainability plan workshop

Groundwater is something we all depend on — for drinking, bathing, growing food, and more. After an unprecedented drought and years of overuse of this vital resource, California passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in 2014. Under SGMA, Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) must create Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) will put California on track to manage this vital resource sustainably. 2019 is an important year for groundwater because GSAs are currently in the process of completing draft Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) that will include important decisions about who gets to use groundwater, and how much. This year, GSAs will be hosting stakeholder review meetings to seek feedback on the draft plans before submitting final versions to the state by January 2020.

To help rural community residents learn about the process of creating these GSPs and how they can get involved to ensure the plans meet their specific needs, Self-Help Enterprises, Community Water Center, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Fresno State are hosting a Groundwater Sustainability Plan workshop on Saturday, February 9, 2019. The workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fresno State Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) Conference Room located at 5370 N. Chestnut Ave., Fresno, CA 93470.

Through presentations and interactive exercises, participants will explore several specific topics to further understanding of how GSAs will create a plan to manage groundwater sustainably. These topics include: developing a water budget, understanding undesirable results, evaluating management actions and projects, and practicing group dialogues with stakeholders with varying interests. By the end of the workshop, participants will gain technical and advocacy skills that will help them participate in the groundwater management process effectively.

Rural community residents on a small water system and those with private domestic wells are encouraged to attend. Registration for the event is available online at http://bit.ly/RSVPFresnoWorkshop. For more information, contact Amanda Monaco, Water Policy Coordinator at Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, at amonaco@leadershipcounsel.org or (559) 369-2788 ext. 1003.

Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part from the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 and through an agreement with the State Department of Water Resources.