DATE: February 20, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Memorandum of Agreement with Groundwater Sustainability Agencies for development of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Memorandum of Agreement with various groundwater sustainability agencies within the Delta-Mendota Subbasin for the preparation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan that includes Fresno County Management Areas A and B; and
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Special Project Agreement with the San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority and the Special Projects Participants for the coordination and preparation of a single Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Delta Mendota Subbasin that includes Fresno County Management Areas A and B.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will authorize an agreement for coordination of resources between agencies within the Delta-Mendota Subbasin for the preparation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for Fresno County Management Areas A and B. The plan is required pursuant to Water Code Section 10727. This item pertains to a location in District 1.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may determine not to approve the recommended actions; however, it would likely result in increased costs and delay of preparing the required GSP. If the GSP is not completed, intervention from the State Water Resources Control Board (State) could occur, which would result in the State managing local groundwater resources in those areas.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no additional increase in Net County Cost associated with the Recommended Actions for the remainder of FY 2023-2024. An Agreement will be in place between the County and Luhdorff and Scalmanini, Consulting Engineers for assistance in the GSP preparation as related to the County. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues...
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