BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ? No ?
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A – Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: Title
Conduct Public Hearing on Valley Water’s 2026 Groundwater Management Plan (Five-Year Update to Approved Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Alternative Plan) for the Santa Clara and Llagas Subbasins; Adopt Resolution Adopting 2026 Groundwater Management Plan.
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
A. Open and conduct a public hearing to receive comments on Valley Water’s 2026 Groundwater Management Plan, the five-year periodic update to Valley Water’s approved Alternative Plan under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, for the Santa Clara and Llagas Subbasins;
B. Close the public hearing; and
C. Adopt the Resolution ADOPTING THE 2026 GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE SANTA CLARA AND LLAGAS SUBBASINS.
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SUMMARY:
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires that groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) managing medium- or high-priority basins prepare and implement a groundwater sustainability plan (GSP) or an authorized alternative to a GSP under Water Code § 10733.6 (Alternative Plan). Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) is the GSA for the Santa Clara and Llagas subbasins, which are both located in Santa Clara County.
In 2016, Valley Water submitted its 2016 Groundwater Management Plan for the Santa Clara and Llagas Subbasins (GWMP) to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) as a GSP Alternative, and DWR approved this Alternative Plan in 2019. As required by SGMA, in 2021 Valley Water submitted its first five-year Periodic Evaluation, or update, to the Alternative Plan in its 2021 GWMP, and DWR approved it. This 2026 GWMP is the second required five-year Periodic Evaluation, or update, to Valley Water’s Alternative Plan for these subbasins; it must be submitted to DWR by December 17, 2026.
Like the 2016 and 2021 GWMPs, the proposed 2026 GWMP describes Valley Water goals, s...
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