Groundwater
Humboldt County Public Works is coordinating the local response to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Opens a New Window. (SGMA) with input and guidance from the Eel River Valley Groundwater Working Group. SGMA was signed into law in September 2014 and applies to designated medium- and high-priority basins within the state. Currently there is one medium-priority basin, the Eel River Valley groundwater basin Opens a New Window. , within Humboldt County.
Groundwater Sustainability Plan Alternative Submittal
SGMA contained provisions for local agencies to submit Groundwater Sustainability Plan Alternatives (GSP Alternatives) by January 1, 2017, if there was evidence demonstrating that the basin had been managed sustainably for at least 10 years prior to the adoption of SGMA. GSP Alternatives are more streamlined plans and do not require the formation of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
In 2016, Humboldt County was awarded a Prop. 1 planning grant to perform an initial assessment of the Eel River Valley groundwater basin. Based on the data and information gathered in this assessment, Humboldt County concluded that there was sufficient evidence demonstrating that the basin had been managed sustainably for at least 10 years. On December 30, 2016, Humboldt County submitted a GSP Alternative to DWR for review.
On July 17, 2019, DWR provided a letter and staff report stating that DWR intended to disapprove the submitted GSP Alternative for the Eel River Valley groundwater basin, for the following reasons:
- The GSP Alternative did not demonstrate that objective management criteria had been in place for 10 years;
- The GSP Alternative did not sufficiently demonstrate the absence of undesirable results;
- A quantitative estimate of sustainable yield had not been provided; and
- The GSP Alternative did not quantify the impacts of groundwater use on surface water systems and determine at what point they are significant and unreasonable.
Based on DWR’s disapproval of the GSP Alternative, Humboldt County is evaluating options for forming a Groundwater Sustainability Agency and will seek Prop. 68 funds to support preparation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan.
- Humboldt County comment letter Opens a New Window. (September 30, 2019)
- DWR notification letter Opens a New Window. (July 17, 2019)
- DWR staff report Opens a New Window. (July 17, 2019)
- Groundwater Sustainability Plan Alternative December 2016 (PDF 442 KB)
- Groundwater Sustainability Plan Alternative Appendices (PDF 80.5 MB)
- Groundwater Sustainability Plan Alternative Figures (PDF 52.3 MB)
- Groundwater Sustainability Plan Alternative Figures reduced file size (PDF 17.1 MB)
The submittal packet can also be found on the Department of Water Resources Alternative Reporting System website.
Reports
- Technical Memorandum Opens in New Window– Preliminary Analysis of Surface Water/Groundwater Interaction Monitoring; Eel River Valley Groundwater Basin (SHN, October 2019)Opens in New Window (PDF 7.5 MB)
Opens in New Window - Annual Report – Water Year 2017 (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017) Opens a New Window. (PDF 33.3 MB)
- Annual Report – Water Year 2018 (October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018) Opens a New Window. (PDF 7.3 MB)
Meetings
- September 30, 2019: Tenth Working Group Meeting (Meeting Materials Opens a New Window. ).
- June 21, 2018: Ninth Working Group meeting (Meeting Materials Opens a New Window. ).
- May 3, 2018: Presentation Opens a New Window. to the Humboldt County Farm Bureau.
- March 22, 2017: Presentation to the Eel River Forum.
- December 20, 2016: Eighth Working Group meeting (Agenda and Meeting Materials and Minutes).
- December 13, 2016: Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Agenda Item to adopt a resolution authorizing Public Works to submit a Groundwater Sustainability Plan Alternative.
- December 2, 2016: Seventh Working Group meeting (Agenda and Meeting Materials and Minutes).
- November 7, 2016: Sixth Working Group meeting (Agenda and Meeting Materials and Minutes).
- September 12, 2016: Fifth Working Group meeting (Agenda and Meeting Materials and Minutes).
- April 25, 2016: Fourth Working Group meeting (Agenda and Meeting Materials and Minutes).
- February 22, 2016: Third Working Group meeting (Agenda and Meeting Materials and Minutes).
- December 14, 2015: Second Working Group meeting (Agenda and Meeting Materials and Minutes).
- October 21, 2015: First Working Group meeting (Agenda and Meeting Materials and Minutes).
- October 6, 2015: Staff Report to the Board of Supervisors.
- May 20, 2015: Presentation to the Eel River Forum.
- April 27, 2015: Workshop on groundwater in the Eel River Valley (Workshop Announcement, Presentation, and Summary).
- February 24, 2015: Staff Report and Presentation to the Board of Supervisors.
- All meetings take place at the University of California Cooperative Extension office located at 5630 South Broadway, Eureka, CA.
To put your name on the contact list, send an e-mail to Robert Vogt.