COMMITTEE AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Water Supply and Demand Management Committee
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ? No ?
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A – Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: title
Receive an Update on Development of Five Year Update to Alternative Groundwater Sustainability Plan and Groundwater Sustainability Plan for All Groundwater Basins Managed by Valley Water Pursuant to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act; Recommend Bringing Updated Alternative Plan to Board of Directors for Public Hearing and Adoption on November 10, 2026.
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
Receive an update on the development of five-year update to Valley Water’s Alternative Groundwater Sustainability Plan; and
Recommend bringing updated Alternative Plan to the November 10, 2026, Board of Directors meeting for public hearing and adoption.
Body
SUMMARY:
Under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), Valley Water serves as the exclusive Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) for the Santa Clara and Llagas groundwater subbasins that are located entirely within Santa Clara County. In addition, Valley Water serves as the GSA for a very small portion of the North San Benito Subbasin that is located in the far southern portion of our County. The primary GSA for this subbasin is San Benito County Water District (SBCWD).
As the GSA for the Santa Clara and Llagas Subbasins, Valley Water has an approved Alternative to a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (Alternative Plan) that sets forth how these basins are managed. Every five years, Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs), including Alternative Plans, must be re-evaluated and updated, and the next periodic evaluation to Valley Water’s Alternative Plan is due to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) by December 17, 2026. In addition, the periodic evaluation to the North San Benito Subbasin GSP is due January 12, 2027.
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