Sacramento State University – College of Continuing Education Consensus and Collaboration Program

1. Sacramento State University – College of Continuing EducationConsensus and Collaboration Program Implementation of the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in Siskiyou County, California Groundwater Sustainability Agency Meeting September 3rd, 2019

2. CCP Facilitation Support Role • Who is CCP? We are collaboration and consensus building specialists out of Sacramento State University • CCP assists with SGMA implementation around the state • Hired as neutral facilitators to help foster public participation • Began work in Siskiyou County with a stakeholder assessment • Helped advisory committees establish governance structures • Will support public participation as the GSP is developed

3. Some Stakeholder Assessment Themes • Broad interest to protect economy and environment that is linked to and dependent on groundwater resources • Many ideas expressed about important issues that need to be discussed as GSPs are developed • Strong interest in collaboration and communication amongst all parties with an interest in groundwater • A number of challenges cited, but many feel SGMA may be a helpful mechanism to ensure a locally managed, sustainable supply of groundwater resources across the county

4. Advisory Committee Governance • Building on early District Board resolutions, the stakeholder assessment helped inform advisory committee governance • - Background and committee purpose • - Membership composition • - Roles and responsibilities • - Decision-making procedures • - Process agreements and ground rules • Charter represented first consensus building opportunity • Group now has established governance structure

5. Stakeholder Communication and Engagement • SGMA requires GSAs to conduct broad stakeholder engagement during GSP development and implementation: • “The groundwater sustainability agency shall encourage the active involvement of diverse social, cultural, and economic elements of the population within the groundwater basin prior to and during the development and implementation of the groundwater sustainability plan.” (California Water Code Section 10727.8(a)) • “The groundwater sustainability agency shall consider the interests of all beneficial uses and users of groundwater.” (California Water Code Section 10723.2)

6. SGMA Beneficial Uses and Users • Agricultural users of water • Domestic well owners • Municipal well operators • Public water systems • Land use planning agencies • Environmental users of groundwater • Surface water users • The federal government • California Native American Tribes • Disadvantaged communities

7. Outreach/Stakeholder Engagement • Consider interests of all beneficial users and users of groundwater • Maintain interested persons list • Document a decision-making process and how stakeholder input and public response will be used • Encourage the active involvement of diverse social, cultural, and economic elements of the population within the basin • Operate in accordance the Brown Act • Provide access to information consistent with the California Public Records Act

8. Next Steps in the SGMA Collaboration • Regular advisory committee meetings • - GSP development (workplan/flowchart) • - Stakeholder communication and engagement plans • Engagement with Native American Tribes • - MOUs/Coordination Agreements • GSA Board presentations and discussions • - Iterative GSP development process • - Ongoing Board guidance, education and input • Public engagement/meetings • - Build out voluntary groundwater monitoring network • - Overview of basin setting/water budget (January, 2020)