fox canyon groundwater management agency

FOX CANYON GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AGENCY A STATE OF CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lynn E. Maulhardt, Chair, Director, United Water Conservation District Charlotte Craven, Vice Chair, Councilperson, City of Camarillo David Borchard, Farmer, Agricultural Representative Steve Bennett, Supervisor, County of Ventura Eugene F. West, Director, Camrosa Water District

July 22, 2015

Board of Directors Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency 800 South Victoria Avenue Ventura, CA 93009-1610

EXECUTIVE OFFICER Jeff Pratt, P.E.

SUBJECT: PROPOSED EXPANSION OF AGENCY GROUNDWATER MANAGAMENT AREA TO ALIGN AND EDGE MATCH WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES' BULLETIN NO. 118 BASIN BOUNDARIES, AND ASSOCIATED ELECTION TO BECOME THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY FOR THOSE AREAS OF GROUNDWATER BASINS THAT EXTEND BEYOND THE AGENCY'S STATUTORY BOUNDARY- (New Item)

RECOMMENDATIONS: (1) Hear a presentation with a proposal to extend the Agency's groundwater management authority beyond its statutory boundary to align and edge match the California Department of Water Resources' (DWR) Bulletin No. 118 basin boundaries where it currently does not match the Agency's external boundaries, and hear the rationale for an associated election to become the Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) for those areas currently in the "white or unmanaged areas" due to the boundary change; and (2) Direct staff to come back at a future meeting with proper public notifications to consider adoption of a Resolution to become a GSA for the "white or unmanaged areas" of the Oxnard Plain Forebay, Pleasant Valley and South Las Posas Basins.

BACKGROUND:

Agency's External Boundary Map: The Agency's enabling legislation (Assembly Bill (AB) No. 2995) provides procedures for establishing and adjusting the Agency's Boundary. AB 2995 defines the Agency Boundary as including "a// land overlying the Fox Canyon aquifer," provides the County Board of Supervisors (BOS) the authority to establish the Agency Boundary, and requires recordation of the boundary map in the office of the County Recorder.

On January 4, 1983, the BOS adopted an initial Agency Boundary subsequently recorded on January 10, 1983. On June 26, 1991 , the Board approved the "Updated Official Boundary Map." The updated map was prepared as part of a "Boundary Map Update Study" completed by staff in 1990. The Agency Boundary maps were updated in 1996, and most recently in 2002. Since there was some confusion, on whether the 2002 Boundary Map was officially recorded, Agency staff formally re-recorded the 2002 version of the Boundary maps with the County Recorder's Office on June 16, 2009.

SGMA: On September 16, 2014, Governor Brown signed AB 1739 and Senate Bills (SB) 1168 and 1319, creating the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The Act became effective January 1, 2015, and authorizes the formation of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) for each basin identified by DWR.

800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventu ra, CA 93009-1 610 (805) 654-2014 FAX: (805) 654-3350

Websites: www.fcgma.org or www.kgmaonline.org Item 2 - of 4

F:\gma\Board\Agendas and Minutes\2015\07-22-15\ltem 2 - Proposed Expansion of Agency's GMA.docx

FCGMA Board Meeting July 22, 2015 of 4

Per Section 10723 of the new legislation, the FCGMA was deemed the exclusive GSA within its boundaries with powers to comply with Act. At its January 9, 2015 meeting, the Board elected to be the GSA by adopted Resolution No. 2015-01 "A Resolution Electing to be the Groundwater Sustainability Agency for the Arroyo Santa Rosa Valley (West, South, East) Las Posas Valley, Oxnard Forebay, Oxnard Plain, and Pleasant Valley Basins within the Boundaries of the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency." Subsequently, upon the Agency's adoption of Resolution No. 2015-01, Agency staff provided notification and all necessary associated documentation to DWR for this GSA election.

DISCUSSION:

As preparation for this item, Agency prepared Item 2A as an overlay of the Agency's current external boundary in comparison with DWR's Bulletin No. 118 basin boundaries. As noted in the attachment, the Agency's current external jurisdictional and basin boundary do not match the DWR Bulletin No. 118 basin boundaries for the seven groundwater basins and sub-basins within the Agency. Areas highlighted in orange are area gaps between the Agency and DWR's boundary lines. These gaps pertain to areas within or adjacent to the Oxnard Plain Forebay, Pleasant Valley, South Las Posas and Arroyo Santa Rosa Valley Basins. The Arroyo Santa Rosa Valley Basin is shown with hatched lines in the map (Item 2A) for boundary line comparison purposes, but is not proposed for GSA election for reasons explained further in No. 2 below.

In Agency staff's conversations with DWR staff, DWR staff has referred or called them "white or unmanaged areas." Therefore, from this point on we also use the term "white or unmanaged areas" in this staff report (also referenced in the subject line and recommendations section).

We are not proposing today with this item:

1. Revising or adjusting the Agency's external boundary to match DWR's Bulletin No. 118 boundaries (including the FCGMA Expansion Area). This would require a change to our enabling legislation and LAFCO approval.

2. Expanding groundwater management into the portion of the Arroyo Santa Rosa Valley Basin beyond the Agency's current jurisdiction boundary. Three agencies (Camrosa Water District, County of Ventura, and City of Camarillo) have provided notification to DWR as designation as a GSA for this portion of the basin.

3. Designating the internal boundaries of basins or sub-basins with the Agency. The process for those designations/naming, and the setting of internal basin/sub-basin boundaries will be conducted through our GSP development, and/or DWR's upcoming Basin Boundary Regulations.

The estimated timeline for DWR Basin Boundary regulations to be promulgated are:

• Draft Emergency Regulations Released: July 15, 2015 • Public Comment Period/Public Meetings: July-September 2015 • California Water Commission Adopts Regulations: November 2015 • Regulation Adoption Deadline: December 31, 2015 • DWR Accepts Boundary Requests (90 days): January 1, 2016

Rationale for Proposed Expansion of Agency's Groundwater Management Area

Below are summarized reasons and rationale why the expansion of the Agency's groundwater management authority to areas outside its boundaries that coincide/edge match with DWR's Bulletin No. 118 boundaries is warranted at this time:

Item 2 - Page 2 of 4



• Reconcile Agency's Basin Boundaries with Bulletin No. 118 Boundaries and Better Groundwater Management - DWR just released its Draft Emergency Basin Boundary regulations. In recent conversations with Agency staff (and presentations at workshops), DWR staff has indicated their preference to have one entity (vs. multiple entities) assume responsibility for groundwater management in gaps where agencies' or entities' jurisdictional basin boundaries create gaps or "white or unmanaged areas." By the Agency assuming groundwater management in these areas, further fragmentation of basin/sub-basins will be prevented with the result of overall better and more efficient groundwater management and coordination.

• Groundwater Sustainability Plan Development - The 2007 Update to the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency Groundwater Management Plan includes maps depicting the Agency Boundary. It makes sense to update the Agency areas of present and future groundwater management prior to the initiation of consultant services for GSP development. As the Agency moves forward with its GSP and towards a greater degree of basin-specific management, it will become increasingly important to have appropriate and well-documented boundaries for stakeholders and policy makers to rely upon for decision-making.

• More Effective Immediate Groundwater Management for the "White or Unmanaged Areas" - The "white or unmanaged areas" will remain without a GSA until another entity elects to do so. Alternatively, absent a GSA election by any entity by June 30, 2017, the County of Ventura will default as the GSA for those areas. If the County then declines, SGMA allows the State Water Resources Control Board to intervene.

• Implications of Groundwater Management in these expanded areas - As depicted as triangles in Item 2A, thirty-four (34) wells are identified in the "white or unmanaged areas." As indicated in the table below, wells are further identified by basin, and ownership type (public vs. private).

FCGMA Basin Number of Wells Public Supply Wells Private Wells Oxnard Plain Forebay 4 0 4 South Las Posas 4 0 4 Pleasant Valley 26 0 26

If the Board elects to be the GSA in these areas, Agency staff expects there will be a step-wise phased implementation phase to integrate these new areas into the Agency's existing groundwater management programs.

Options Today for Board Consideration

No. 1: Proceed with GSA election to expand Agency groundwater management to the "white or unmanaged areas" as highlighted in Item 2A (Forebay, Pleasant Valley, East (South) Las Posas groundwater basins) to coincide with DWR Bulletin No. 118 basin boundaries.

No. 2: Proceed with GSA election in only one or more areas highlighted in Item 2A.

No. 3: No GSA election. The "white or unmanaged areas" will remain without a GSA under another entity elects to do so. Alternatively, absent a GSA election by any entity by June 30, 2017, the County of Ventura is the default GSA for those areas. If the County declines, SGMA authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board to oversee groundwater management in these areas.




Conclusion

Agency staff recommends Option No. 1 for these reasons stated above. We request the Board direct staff to return to your Board with a Resolution to elect to be the GSA in those in the "white or unmanaged areas" as identified in Item 2A, and complete the necessary public noticing requirements needed for the Board to consider adoption at a future Board meeting.

This letter has been reviewed by Agency Counsel. If you have any questions, please call me at (805) 654-5051 .

Sincerely,

Attachment: FCGMA Boundary Map in Comparison to DWR Bulletin No. 118 Boundaries (Item 2A)



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