BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Public Hearing and Resolution to Become the Groundwater Sustainability Agency for the Portions of the Hollister and San Juan Bautista Subbasins Located within Santa Clara County.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Conduct the public hearing to become the Groundwater Sustainability Agency for the portions of the Hollister and San Juan Bautista Subbasins located within Santa Clara County; and
B. Adopt the Resolution BECOMING THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY FOR THE PORTIONS OF THE HOLLISTER AND SAN JUAN BAUTISTA SUBBASINS LOCATED WITHIN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
Body
SUMMARY:
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA or Act) identifies the Santa Clara Valley Water District (District) as the exclusive local agency to comply with the Act within its statutory boundaries (i.e., Santa Clara County). For basins subject to SGMA requirements within the county, the District may: 1) decide to become the Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), or 2) opt out of being the exclusive groundwater management agency. The statutory deadline to become a GSA is June 30, 2017.
In 2016, the District became the GSA for the Santa Clara and Llagas subbasins, the major groundwater basins in the county that the District has managed for many decades. The only other basins currently subject to SGMA requirements in Santa Clara County are the Hollister and San Juan Bautista subbasins (DWR Basins 3-3.03 and 3-3.04, respectively). These subbasins are centered in San Benito County, with small portions extending into Santa Clara County (Attachment 1). At the February 14, 2017 Board meeting, staff presented several SGMA compliance options for the Santa Clara County portions of these subbasins. The Board directed staff to pursue becoming the GSA for the areas within the county, and to coordinate with the San Benito County Water District (SBCWD), which manages the portions of the subbasins within San Benito County.
This public hearing is b...
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