Assistance and Engagement

Workshop attendees listen to overviews of new groundwater legislation during a drought response workshop in Irvine, California in February 2015
Then-Governor Jerry Brown noted upon signing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) that groundwater is best managed at the local level, and that the State's primary role is to provide guidance and support. We are committed to providing this guidance and support as you implement SGMA and work toward managing your groundwater basins sustainably.
We provide a variety of services including Facilitation Support, Technical Services and Field Activities, Communication and Engagement, and Financial Assistance.
Timely, forthright, and consistent communication among all partners and stakeholders is important for SGMA implementation. Proactive outreach and engagement of partners and stakeholders will help basins move towards sustainable management of groundwater.
In January 2020, DWR and the State Water Resources Control Board hosted workshops in Paso Robles and Clovis for Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) submitting Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) for DWR evaluation. The purpose of these workshops was to discuss:
- GSP evaluation and assessment process.
- DWR and SWRCB interaction during GSP evaluation.
- Annual reporting requirements and process.
- DWR and SWRCB assistance programs that will support GSP implementation and future GSP updates.
A video recording, DWR's presentation slides, and SWRCB's presentation slides are available.
Staff from DWR’s regional offices serve as primary Points of Contact (POCs) for the high- and medium- priority basins. Staff can provide information and help GSAs and stakeholders connect with DWR and locate resources.
This set of examples and templates is provided for the purposes of SGMA outreach as discussed in the Stakeholder Communication and Engagement (C&E) Guidance document. The templates may be downloaded, modified, and tailored to specific needs and audiences. While not all templates are applicable to all GSAs, they are available as examples of effective ways to engage.
This information is not intended to prescribe specific outreach and communications methods for GSAs or local agencies to follow, but to provide resources and various examples for consideration. Other than what is required by statute or regulations, GSAs have discretion on how they communicate and engage with the beneficial uses and users of groundwater within a basin. The document contains these templates:
- Stakeholder Engagement Chart for Identifying GSP Audiences - A table of potential interests that should be considered and included in a GSA's engagement activities.
- Stakeholder Survey Template - A survey template with questions geared towards learning about the stakeholder's interests, issues, and challenges.
- "Lay of the Land" Exercise Template - An exercise template to help you develop strategies for engagement after the stakeholder surveys are completed.
Local GSA Websites
Visit the websites below for examples of how some local agencies are keeping the public informed about their SGMA implementation efforts.
- Sonoma Valley GSA – Petaluma Valley GSA – Santa Rosa Plain GSA
- Siskiyou County Flood Control and Water Conservation District GSA for Butte Valley – Shasta Valley – Scott Valley
- Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency
- Salinas Valley 180/400 Foot Aquifer Subbasin
- McMullin Area GSA
- Kern Groundwater Authority GSA
- Upper Ventura River Groundwater Agency GSA
For additional examples of local agency websites, please visit the SGMA Portal where all GSAs are listed with website and contact information.
Additional Published Resources
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Inclusive Public Engagement
Prepared by the Institute fro Local Government (ILG), this report offers tip sheets and resources to effectively and successfully plan and implement successful engagement strategies.
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Open and Public V - A Guide to The Ralph M Brown Act
Developed and originally published in 1989 by the League’s City Attorneys’ Department Brown Act Committee, this recently updated fifth edition of Open & Public explains the current provisions of California statutes and case law as of April 2016 and includes an annotated copy of the Brown Act.
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Collaborating for Success - Stakeholder Engagement for SGMA Implementation
Prepared by the Community Water Center in 2015, this resource outlines the statutory requirements for stakeholder engagement in SGMA, gives examples of best practices and examples of collaborative management from around the state, and provides a recommended roadmap for effective stakeholder engagement.
Please contact sgmps@water.ca.gov to receive these following documents via email.
Envie un correo electronico a sgmps@water.ca.gov para una copia de estos documentos.
The Department of Water Resources hosted a free Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) Forum for GSA members and stakeholders on March 21, 2019, in West Sacramento, to facilitate the exchange of ideas, establish professional networks and foster successful stakeholder engagement. Two panel discussions focused on communication, coordination, engagement and outreach. Panelists showcased various governance structures, stakeholder outreach and engagement strategies and provided presentations, followed by a question and answer period. For a link to a video of the event, please email sgmps@water.ca.gov.
SGMA Guidance Resources
Our Technical Support Services (TSS) supports Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) as they develop and implement their Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs). TSS’s goal is to provide education, data, and tools to GSAs at both regional and statewide scales to build the capacity needed to achieve sustainability. TSS is available to GSAs through our Region Offices or contractors pending funding availability. Critically overdrafted basins have initial priority for this funding.
Technical Support Services Offered:
Field Activities
- Monitoring Well Installation
- Geophysical Logging
- Geologic Logging
- Groundwater Level Monitoring Training
- Borehole Video Logging
- Other Field Activities
Modeling and Mapping
- Modeling Training and Support (pending DWR updated model release)
Who is Eligible?
GSAs developing and implementing GSPs are eligible to apply for this service if they meet all of the following obligations:
- Agree to share any data generated from the technical support service(s) with DWR and the public.
- Comply with all applicable laws related to the technical support service(s).
- Agree to work in an open, inclusive, and collaborative manner toward the development and implementation of a GSP, including appointing a coordinator for the basin to represent all GSAs within the basin or subbasin, resolve disputes, and speak as one voice to DWR (not required to be the “Point-of-Contact” for Coordination Agreements as used in 23 CCR §357.4 (b) (1) of the GSP Emergency Regulations, or the “Plan manager” as used in 23 CCR §351 (z), 353.4 (b), and §354.6 (c)).
- Agree to complete GSA’s volunteered responsibilities related to requested technical support service(s) within the defined timeframe.
- Support DWR staff or contractors that are providing technical support service(s)
How to Apply:
Applications for TSS will be evaluated on a continuous basis as funding allows. The application process is two-part - a General Application and Individual Service Requests - and must be submitted through an online application system made available to the applicant following consultation with their local DWR Region Office. PDF and Microsoft Word copies of the General Application and Service Requests are provided as a resource to help applicants prepare for applying.
For more information or help starting a TSS application, contact DWR’s Region Coordinators at sgmp_rc@water.ca.gov
Facilitation Support Services (FSS) help local agencies work through challenging water management situations. Under SGMA, groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) shall encourage the active involvement of diverse social, cultural, and economic interests and consider all beneficial uses and users of groundwater when developing and implementing groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs). Sometimes GSAs need the help of professional facilitators to foster discussions among diverse water management interests and local agencies.
Services Offered through DWR-funded Professional Facilitators:
- Stakeholder assessments
- Governance development
- Stakeholder communication and engagement planning and support
- Public outreach
- Targeted outreach to underrepresented groundwater users
- Tribal government outreach and engagement
- Identification and engagement of interested parties
- Meeting facilitation
- Intra-basin and inter-basin coordination support
- Interest-based negotiation/consensus building
Who is Eligible?
GSAs developing or implementing GSPs, other groups coordinating with the GSAs in developing and implementing GSPs, and agencies implementing approved Alternatives to GSPs are eligible to apply for this service if they meet all of the following obligations:
- Agree to work in an open, inclusive, and collaborative manner to implement SGMA.
- Support an inclusive process that seeks, promotes, encourages, and welcomes the involvement of all interested parties.
- Commit to meet regularly and work diligently toward a clear and defined goal.
- Commit to providing a meeting space that is suitably located and sized.
Applications for FSS will be evaluated on a continuous basis as funding allows.
For more information or help starting an application, contact DWR’s Regional Coordinators at sgmp_rc@water.ca.gov.
Under SGMA, groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) shall encourage the active involvement of diverse social, cultural, and economic interests and consider all beneficial uses and users of groundwater when developing groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs). DWR’s Written Translation Service is available to help GSAs, or other groups assisting in local SGMA implementation efforts, to communicate the groundwater planning activities with their non-English speaking constituents.
GSAs, or other groups, may submit written notices, letters, forms, presentations, fact sheets, pamphlets, leaflets, and brochures to DWR for translation into one or more of the following languages:
- Chinese
- Hmong
- Korean
- Laotian
- Punjabi
- Spanish
- Tagalog
- Vietnamese
Service Limitations:
- Currently, requests are limited to 5,000 words per groundwater basin/subbasin. DWR may change the word count limitation as needed, based on remaining contract capacity.
- Eligible groundwater basins/subbasins are those required to prepare a GSP per CWC §10720.7.
- The written translation will be provided to the applicant electronically. Graphic design and formatting are not provided by DWR's Written Translation Services. Content spacing and formatting may be affected through the translation process and should be checked prior to finalization by the applicant.
- Requests will take a few weeks to fulfill; additional time will be needed if the service provider requires additional information.
- DWR does not review, take responsibility for, or endorse the content submitted for written translation.
- Although DWR’s service provider will take care to provide appropriate and meaningful translation; accuracy is not guaranteed.
How to Apply:
- DWR receives requests for written translation using an online application form.
- Documents for translation must be uploaded as either Microsoft Word or Microsoft PowerPoint files.
- A PDF of the final document should be uploaded to serve as a master copy.
Requests will be evaluated and fulfilled as received, on a continuous basis, as contract capacity allows.
For more information or help starting an application, contact DWR’s Region Office Coordinators at sgmp_rc@water.ca.gov.
Proposition 1 IRWM
Proposition 1 (The Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014) IRWM Grant Program, which includes funding for Disadvantaged Community (DAC) projects, provides funding for projects that help meet the long-term water needs of the state. The 2016 Guidelines provides information on the general process, procedures, and criteria. Draft Proposal Solicitation Package is expected to be released early in 2018.
Sustainable Groundwater Planning
The Sustainable Groundwater Planning (SGWP) Grant Program which provides funding for projects that develop and implement sustainable groundwater planning and projects consistent with groundwater planning requirements.
Contact Us
General Inquiries:
sgmps@water.ca.gov
Regional Inquiries:
sgmp_rc@water.ca.gov
Basin Points of Contact:
Northern Region
North Central Region
South Central Region
Southern Region
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