BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Public Hearing on the Decision to Adopt Modified Groundwater Benefit Zones W-2 and W-5 and Establish New Groundwater Benefit Zones W-7 and W-8.
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RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Conduct public hearing on the Decision to Adopt Modified Groundwater Benefit Zones W-2 and W-5, and New Groundwater Benefit Zones W-7 and W-8;
B. Adopt the Resolution AMENDING THE BOUNDARIES OF GROUNDWATER BENEFIT ZONE W-2, with an implementation date of July 1, 2020;
C. Adopt the Resolution AMENDING THE BOUNDARIES OF GROUNDWATER BENEFIT ZONE W-5, with an implementation date of July 1, 2020;
D. Adopt the Resolution ESTABLISHING GROUNDWATER BENEFIT ZONE W-7, with an implementation date of July 1, 2020; and
E. Adopt Resolution ESTABLISHING GROUNDWATER BENEFIT ZONE W-8, with an implementation date of July 1, 2020.
Body
SUMMARY:
The Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) has sustainably managed local groundwater resources for many decades. The Santa Clara Valley Water District Act (District Act) authorizes the Valley Water Board of Directors (Board) to establish zones encompassing areas where groundwater pumpers benefit directly and indirectly from Valley Water activities to protect and augment water supplies. Valley Water established the two primary groundwater benefit zones (Zones W-2 and W-5 representing North and South County, respectively) in 1963 and 1977, respectively (Attachment 1).
Since the zones were first established, Valley Water's activities benefitting groundwater pumpers have changed, and new and more detailed information has become available regarding the groundwater subbasins Valley Water manages. Valley Water initiated the Groundwater Benefit Zone Study (Study) to assess existing zones and recommend changes needed to ensure that ratepayers are grouped in a way that reflects the most recent and relevant data regarding the services and benefits received by well owners and operators (Well Users).
Valley Water...
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