TO: Napa GSA Board of Directors
FROM: Brian Bordona - Interim Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Jamison Crosby - Natural Resources Conservation Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing a Grant Application to the California Department of Water Resources
RECOMMENDATION
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Interim Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services requests adoption of a Resolution in support of an $8,831,790 grant application to the California Department of Water Resources in support of Napa County’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Program and the Napa County Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s (GSAs) implementation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan through April 30, 2026.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is administering the Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program, SGMA Implementation Round 2 Grant pursuant to the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) (Pub. Resource Code, § 80000 et seq.) and the California Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022 (Stats. 2021, ch.240, § 80), which is specifically designed to support and fund the implementation of Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs). The Interim Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services has prepared an application to the grant program to financially support the implementation of the Napa Valley Subbasin GSP, including the installation of additional groundwater monitoring wells. The grant amount being requested is $8,831,790 which would partially fund implementation through April 30, 2026; no match by the Napa County GSA is required.
The submittal of the grant application requires a resolution from the Napa County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) authorizing submittal of the grant application and confirming the GSA's intent to conduct the project pursuant to all grant conditions. The proposed GSP implementation and installation of monitoring wells will directly support the work of the GSA's Sustainable Groundwater Management Program and will maintain Napa County's compliance with California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
The Napa Valley Subbasin GSP is required to comply with California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and related GSP regulations. Grant funding offered through this program will help to offset a significant portion of consultant and staff costs to implement the GSP that would otherwise need to be supported by the County General Fund. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
If the resolution is approved and DWR funds the proposal in full, it would represent a significant funding infusion to the County. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If the GSA does not approve the resolution, neither the GSA nor Napa County would be eligible to apply for grant funding through DWR's Sustainable Groundwater Management Program. In order to remain in compliance with SGMA and avoid State Water Resources Control Board involvement in the management of the Napa Valley Groundwater Subbasin, the GSA would need to fund the implementation of the GSP on its own. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Vibrant and Sustainable Environment |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Napa County has taken progressive actions to protect and manage groundwater since the mid-1960s through careful land use zoning policies, attention to groundwater monitoring, and permitting processes. Since 2008, Napa County has been implementing a groundwater management program to better understand groundwater conditions, establishing monitoring to track conditions, conducting education and outreach, and developing programs to assess and maintain groundwater sustainability, including development of the GSA’s Napa Valley Subbasin GSP to comply with California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and related GSP regulations.
DWR administers the Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program SGMA Implementation Round 2 Grant pursuant to the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) (Pub. Resource Code, § 80000 et seq.) and the California Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022 (Stats. 2021, ch. 240, § 80). This DWR grant program is specifically designed to support and fund groundwater planning and implementation efforts related to the implementation of GSPs. The Interim Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services has prepared an application to the DWR grant program to financially support the implementation of the Napa Valley Subbasin GSP and to install additional groundwater monitoring wells.
Submittal of the grant proposal requires a Resolution from the Napa County GSA authorizing submittal of the proposal, authorizing specific staff to file and execute the grant agreement, and confirming the GSA's intent to conduct the grant project pursuant to all grant conditions. If awarded, grant funding will help to offset a significant portion of consultant and staff costs related to implementing the GSP that would otherwise have to be supported by the County General Fund.
The scope of work included in the grant proposal includes: Grant Administration; Stakeholder Engagement and Data Management; GSP Implementation and Compliance; Drought Risk and Water Shortage Resiliency Program Development; Interconnected Surface Water and Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Workplan and Implementation; Improving Understanding of Basin Water Use; Addressing Data Gaps including Monitoring Well Installation and Instrumentation; and Recharge Studies. The proposed scope of work will directly support the work of the GSA and helps to ensure continued compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
The Interim Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services requests adoption of the proposed resolution authorizing submittal of a proposal to DWR for funding through the Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program.