Report Prepared by: Leah Brown, Water Conservation Specialist, Public Works
Title
SUBJECT: Set a Public Hearing to Consider the Formation of the Merced Irrigation-Urban Groundwater Sustainability Agency
REPORT IN BRIEF
Request setting a Public Hearing to consider the formation of the Merced Irrigation-Urban Groundwater Sustainability Agency on May 1, 2017.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion setting the Public Hearing to consider the formation of the Merced Irrigation-Urban Groundwater Sustainability Agency on May 1, 2017.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Adopt as recommended by staff; or,
2. Modify the action; or,
3. Continue action until a future City Council meeting, specifying date; or
4. Deny the action.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Article II, Section 200, and Article IV, Section 405 of the Merced Municipal Code (MMCC), and Article XIII of the California State Constitution in accordance with the MMCC, Title 15.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2016-17 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) was passed in September of 2014 and became law on January 1, 2015. SGMA requires all high and medium priority groundwater basins to be managed by one or more groundwater sustainability agencies (GSA). These GSAs will have the authority, and obligation, to develop one or more groundwater sustainability plans (GSP) that develops solutions for the long-term sustainable management of local groundwater resources. The GSP(s) needs to be adopted by either January 31, 2020 or January 31, 2022, depending on whether or not the particular subbasin is in a condition of critical overdraft.
Each groundwater subbasin must have all of its geographic area covered by one or more GSA(s) by June 30, 2017. The Merced Groundwater Subbasin is considered to be a critically over drafted basin, therefore the GSP(s) deadline is January 31, 2020.
The City of Merced has been working with other local public agenci...
Click here for full text