Can Collaborative Groundwater Management Work?

1. Can Collaborative Groundwater Management Work? The Sonoma County Experience Jay Jasperse Sonoma County Water Agency April 9, 2010

2. Overview • SCWA/USGS Groundwater Assessment Program • Sonoma Valley Groundwater Management Program • Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Management Activities • Lessons Learned

3. Alexander Valley Study Area Completed 2006 Santa Rosa Valley Study Area Initiated 2005 Sonoma Valley Study Area Completed 2006 Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) Water Transmission System Petaluma Valley Study Area

4. SCWA/USGS Sonoma Valley 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

5. Findings Stakeholder Assessment – 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

6. Sonoma Valley Groundwater 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 6

7. Sonoma Valley -Management 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

8. Volunteer Groundwater-Level Monitoring 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

9. Stakeholder Involvement & Outreach 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

10. Programs 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

11. Groundwater Management Program 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

12. Conducted by the Center for Collaborative Policy Finalized in January 2010 Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Management Situation Assessment

13. Center for Collaborative PolicyStakeholder 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

14. Findings – Stakeholder Assessment 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

15. 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

16. 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!

17. Sonoma Valley Water Use - Year 2000 Total Water Use Groundwater Use

18. Historical & Projected Groundwater Use - Sonoma Valley