Napa County Residents:chance to work on groundwater management November 13th

Napa County residents you don’t want to miss this opportunity to get input into managing your groundwater basins. The Groundwater Sustainable Management Act mandates that water use be “sustainable” and the state has given the panels authority to regulate water, impose fees, powers of imminent domain and investment in capital projects to name a few.  Don’t let big ag coopt the meetings for their benefit.

Meeting Notice and SAVE THE DATE:

Hello to all who care about water security,
The North Coast Stream Flow Coalition, NCSFC,  is partnering with The Nature Conservancy, TNC, to present this one day Citizen Groundwater Empowerment Workshop on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 10-3pm.
 It is critical that we understand our local water resources and how we as local stakeholders in water security can advocate for conservation, protection and sustainability of surface and groundwater for now and for future generations.
We will teach you about the new groundwater legislation passed by the California State Legislature in 2014, the Groundwater Sustainable Management Act, SGMA, and how this new law applies to Napa County.
We are living in critical times with climate change, diminishing natural resources and high demand for water that is already over appropriated in California as well as much of the Napa River watershed including groundwater.
The NCSFC and TNC welcome you to this informative and necessary Workshop.
SAVE THE DATE:
WHAT: CITIZEN GROUNDWATER EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP
WHERE: 1625 SALVADOR AVE, NAPA VALLEY UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SANCTUARY
WHEN: TUESDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2018
TIME: 10:00AM-3:00PM
Who: Facilitator, Chris Malan
         Educator: Felice Pace, NCSFC, SGMA expert
         Educator: Sandi Matsumoto, TNC
LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED.
A recommended donation of $15.00 at the door is requested.
Space is limited.
To reserve now or if you have questions, respond to this email, or call:
Chris Malan
NCSFC
Chair
 707.322.8677

NCSFC Citizen Groundwater Empowerment Workshop

Napa County, November 13, 2018

Objective: To motivate citizens, including high school and college students, to participate in groundwater

planning for the Napa Valley and to give them the tools to participate effectively

I. Welcome and Introductions (10:00-10:15) Chris Malan

II. Introduction to SGMA: (10:15-10:30)

Why SGMA was developed: groundwater conditions in California’s Groundwater Basins

The results of unregulated groundwater extraction: CASGEM and what it found.

III. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and how it works. (10:30 – 11:30 (Handout #1)

local control with state-defined requirements, including the role of DWR and SWRCB back-up

SGMA’s definition of sustainable management

“undesirable results” after January 1, 2015

the planning process: water budgets, groundwater models and their limitations

Small Group Exercise: Setting a Minimum Threshold or Understanding Water Budgets

IV. Undesirable Results in the Napa Valley and Napa County’s response. (11:30 – 12:00)

Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems

Streamflows

Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems

Other undesirable results

The Alternative Plan & why it should be rejected

(Handout #2: an action alert inviting folks to comment on the Napa Alternative Plan)

LUNCH PROVIDED AND BREAK (12:00 – 1:00)

V. How environmental and other stakeholders can effectively participate in Groundwater Sustainability Plan

(GSP) development: Advocating for Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs) and surface water

environmental flows. (1:00-2:00) Sandi Matsumoto/TNC-Sacramento

VI. Strategy for achieving a truly sustainable GSP for Napa Valley. (2:00-2:30) Felice Pace

Brainstorm: How can we assure that Groundwater Management in Napa County is truly sustainable, that

is, sustainable without creating or exacerbating undesirable results?

Key Strategies for achieving real sustainability without creating/exacerbating undesirable results:

Participation is critical (including getting high school and community college students, boaters,

fishermen, birdwatchers, and other recreational users involved).

Asking the right questions.

Involving supportive professional hydrologists, biologists, fishermen, boaters, etc.

Using your DWR representative, the NCSFC, UCS, TNC and NGO Collaborative resources.

Keeping the SWRCB contact person informed.

VII. Discussion, Feedback and Next Steps. (2:30-2:55) Felice Pace and Chris Malan

(Suggestions will be captured on a slip chart and the results will be sent to all participants)

What more do citizens need to participate effectively?

What is the most effective strategy to achieve sustainable groundwater management?

What are you willing to do to help?

Next Steps

VIII. Closing (2:55-3:00) Chris Malan