Agenda and Meeting Packet now available.

The Santa Ynez River Valley Groundwater Basin (Basin) Eastern Management Area (EMA) Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) Board of Directors (Board) and Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) is hosting a public workshop at 1070 Faraday St., Santa Ynez, California on March 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM. The purpose of the workshop is to share information about the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and a Groundwater Extraction Fee Rate Study that is being conducted by the GSA. Additionally, the GSA will present information on potential new well registration and metering policies. Comments and questions are welcomed, and we hope to have an open discussion with groundwater users within the EMA.

The Groundwater Extraction Fee Rate Study, along with well registration and metering program policies, are critical components of the EMA’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) that was adopted by the GSA on January 6, 2022, and approved by the Department of Water Resources (DWR). In order to fund the management of groundwater resources within the EMA, the GSA must establish a revenue generating mechanism. The Rate Study will establish the basis for developing a groundwater pumping or extraction fee that will cover the GSA’s essential operating costs to sustainably manage groundwater in the EMA.

To support implementation of a groundwater extraction fee, the well registration program would provide the GSA with essential information on the location, status, and construction of irrigation, municipal and domestic wells in the EMA. A well metering and reporting program would allow the GSA to collect accurate information on groundwater pumped from the EMA, and allow the GSA to assess groundwater extraction fees based on well owners’ actual production in the EMA.

The Groundwater Extraction Fee Rate Study workshop will cover the following topics:

·       Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Overview 

·       The Importance of Groundwater Management and SGMA compliance 

·       Funding the GSA Operation and Activities Described in the GSP 

·       Overview of the Rate Study Presently Underway

·       Proposed Well Registration and Metering Programs

·       Schedule for GSP Implementation

Additional information about GSA activities can be found on the EMA website at: ema-SantaYnezWater.org and at EMA GSA Board Meetings, which are held on the fourth Thursday of every month at 4:00 PM at the Santa Ynez Community Services District Meeting Room (1070 Faraday Street, Santa Ynez, California 93460). For additional information, please contact ema@SantaYnezWater.org.