B. Description of Proposed Boundary Modification

1. Short Description

   The Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA) requests a jurisdictional modification of the boundary between the Salinas Valley Upper Valley Aquifer and Salinas Valley Paso Robles Area subbasins. The int
2. Type of basin boundary revision

   • Jurisdiction Internal
3. Provide a narrative overview of the boundary modification request and how the resulting modification would affect likelihood of sustainable management.

   SVBGSA requests a jurisdictional modification of the border between the Upper Valley Aquifer and Paso Robles Area subbasins. Currently, the border is located north of the Monterey/San Luis Obispo county line and the Paso Robles Area subbasin lies in both Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. The proposed internal boundary revision adjusts the border to coincide with the county line, placing the Paso Robles Area subbasin entirely within San Luis Obispo County and expanding the Upper Valley Aquifer subbasin south to the County Line. This modification makes the border between the subbasins consistent with both County and existing GSA jurisdictions. SVBGSA?s jurisdictional area lies entirely within Monterey County. Five other GSAs lie entirely in San Luis Obispo County, including the County of San Luis Obispo ? Paso Basin GSA, Shandon-San Juan GSA, City of Paso Robles, Heritage Ranch Community Service District, and San Miguel Community Service District. These five GSAs have agreed to work together on a GSP for the San Luis Obispo County portion of the existing Paso Robles Area subbasin. This modification will simplify implementation of management projects and help both subbasins achieve sustainability by aligning the basin boundaries with the established GSA boundaries. The 2016 Bulletin 118 Interim Update identified the Paso Robles Area Basin as critically overdrafted. The 2011 Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Management Plan (attached in Part L1) stated that critically declining groundwater levels and overdraft conditions occur primarily in San Luis Obispo County. This modification would therefore remove Monterey County from managing the overdrafted portion of the Paso Robles Basin. Reducing the number of GSAs involved with managing the critically overdrafted Paso Robles Basin will expedite management of the overdraft.

   Attachment(s):
4. List the existing basin(s)/subbasin(s) to be modified by this request

   • 3-004.05 SALINAS VALLEY - UPPER VALLEY AQUIFER
   • 3-004.06 SALINAS VALLEY - PASO ROBLES AREA
5. Provide the proposed name for the new basin(s) or subbasin(s)

   n/a

C. Initial Notification and Combination of Requests

1. Was an initial notification submitted to the Department?

   Yes
   List of submitted initial notification for the selected basin(s)/subbasin(s).

   Local Agency	Potential Basin(s)/Subbasin(s)
   	3-004.05 SALINAS VALLEY - UPPER VALLEY AQUIFER , 3-004.06 SALINAS VALLEY - PASO ROBLES AREA
   Templeton Community Services District	3-004.06 SALINAS VALLEY - PASO ROBLES AREA
   Heritage Ranch Community Service District	3-004.06 SALINAS VALLEY - PASO ROBLES AREA
   Monterey County Water Resources Agency	3-004.06 SALINAS VALLEY - PASO ROBLES AREA
   	3-004.06 SALINAS VALLEY - PASO ROBLES AREA

2. Does this application include a combination of requests?

   No

D. Required Documents for All Modifications

1. A copy of the statutory or other legal authority under which the requesting agency was created with specific citations to the provisions setting forth the duties and responsibilities of the agency.

Attachment(s):

• D1_signedJPA.pdf (1.4MB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:02AM

2. A copy of the signed resolution adopted by the requesting agency formally initiating the boundary modification request process.

Attachment(s):

• D2_2018-03, Paso Robles Subbasin Boundary Modification1.pdf (531.8kB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:03AM

3. A map of adequate scale (no greater than 1:24,000; e.g., 1:10,000 is not acceptable) showing the proposed modified basin boundary in relation to the existing Bulletin-118 basin boundary and the local agencies that are within or bordering the existing and proposed basin.

Attachment(s):

• D3_Maps.pdf (1.1MB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:04AM

4. A GIS shapefile of the proposed modified groundwater basin boundaries. Download Existing B118 basin shape file | DWR Spatial Data Standards

Attachment(s):

• D4_SVBGSA_BasinMod2018.zip (79.1kB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:04AM

5. A GIS shapefile of the political boundaries of any affected or adjacent local agency. Download water agency shape file

Attachment(s):

• D5_SVBGSA_Agencies.zip (893.2kB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:05AM

6. Any information, if necessary, to enable DWR to satisfy the requirements of a responsible agency pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.

The SVBGSA has determined that this basin boundary modification request does not constitute a project under CEQA and will not have a significant effect on the environment. A CEQA Notice of Exemption, attached, has been filed

Attachment(s):

• D6_Notices of Exemption mailed to Mo. and SLO Co, OPR on 06-15-18.pdf (1.2MB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:07AM

E. General Information

1. Describe the lateral boundaries of the alluvial aquifer or aquifers that form the groundwater basin and the definable bottom of the basin. The description must be in terms that are clear, definite, and sufficiently detailed to allow an authoritative map of the proposed basin boundaries to be plotted using the given description.

Because most of the subbasin boundaries are identical to the boundaries in the existing Bulletin 118, the following descriptions of the modified subbasin boundaries are simply modifications of the descriptions in the existing Bulletin 118. The modified Upper Valley Aquifer subbasin occupies the upper portion of the Salinas Valley and extends from approximately three miles south of Greenfield to six miles south of the town of San Ardo. The subbasin is bounded to the west by the contact of the Quaternary Paso Robles Formation or Quaternary terrace deposits with middle Miocene marine sedimentary rocks (Monterey Shale) of the Sierra de Salinas. To the east, the boundary is the contact of the Paso Robles Formation or of the Quaternary terrace deposits or alluvium with the Early to Middle Pliocene Pancho Rico Formation of the Gabilan Range. The northern boundary is shared with the Salinas Valley – Forebay Aquifer subbasin and generally represents the southern limit of confining conditions above the 400-Foot Aquifer. This boundary also represents a constriction of the Valley floor due to encroachment from the west by the composite alluvial fan of Arroyo Seco and Monroe Creek. The southern boundary is the Monterey/San Luis Obispo county line, shared with the Salinas Valley –Paso Robles Area subbasin. The northern boundary of the modified Paso Robles Area subbasin is the Monterey - San Luis Obispo county line, shared with the Salinas Valley –Upper Valley Aquifer subbasin. The Paso Robles Area subbasin is bounded to the east by the Temblor Range, to the south by the La Panza Range, and to the west by the Santa Lucia Range. The San Andreas fault zone bounds the basin on the northeast. The San Marcos-Rinconada fault system traverses the western part of the basin. The Red Hill, San Juan, and White Canyon faults form the eastern boundary of the subbasin.

F. Notice and Consultation

1. List all local agencies and public water systems affected by the basin(s) modification request.

Attachment(s):

• F1Notice_Agencies_Table.pdf (135.5kB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:09AM

2. Explain the methods used to identify interested local agencies and public water systems in the affected basin(s):

All GSAs that overlap SVBGSA?s jurisdiction or have jurisdiction in the Paso Robles Area subbasin are included as interested agencies and were identified using DWR?s GSA spatial data. Interested agencies and water systems were identified using DWR?s Water Agency shapefile and the existing basin boundaries; any agency with a boundary that intersects either affected subbasin was notified about the modification request. Additional agencies and systems were identified using shapefiles from the County of San Luis Obispo?s Open Data site; any agency in this dataset with a boundary that intersects either affected subbasin was notified about the modification request.

3. Provide information regarding the nature of consultations with affected or interested agencies. Attach and cite any copies of correspondences with local agencies and public water systems and/or any other persons or entities consulted.

A letter describing the proposed boundary modification was sent to all local agencies and public water systems in or near the Upper Valley Aquifer subbasin and the Paso Robles subbasin. Every local agency or public water system listed on in item F1 received a copy of this letter.A copy of the letter is attached. The letter requested comments and support from each local agency and public water system. A draft of this application was posted on the SVBGSA website on June 14, 2018, in advance of submission (https://svbgsa.org/updates/2018/6/14/proposed-paso-robles-boundary-modification).

Attachment(s):

• F3_Paso Robles Subbasin Boundary Modification Notice Combined.pdf (626.2kB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:10AM

4. Provide a summary of all public meetings at which the proposed boundary modification was discussed or considered by the requesting agency. Attach and cite any copies of agendas and notices published.

A public meeting to discuss the proposed boundary modification was held on May 30, 2018 at the King City Council Chambers, 212 S. Vanderhurst Ave., King City, CA. The affected and interested agencies identified in F1 were notified of the meeting via mail (F4_05-30-18 PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE, Paso Robles Basin Boundary Modif Notice.pdf). SVBGSA posted notice of the meeting on its website (https://svbgsa.org/meetings/) and mail server. Notice of the meeting was also sent to the Salinas Californian, King City Rustler, Paso Robles Daily, and San Luis Obispo Tribune for publication (F4_05-30-18 mtg. newspaper notice of Paso Robles Basin Boundary Modification.pdf). Stakeholders, SVBGSA Board members, and a DWR representative attended the meeting. Meeting summary is attached as F4_5-30-18 Community Meeting Summary on Paso Boundary Modification.pd

Attachment(s):

• The Tribune Public Notice - SLO [2946].pdf (944.9kB) Uploaded on 07/11/2018 at 09:24AM
• Monterey County Weekly.pdf (560.5kB) Uploaded on 07/11/2018 at 09:24AM
• Proof of publication for South County.pdf (465.7kB) Uploaded on 07/11/2018 at 09:24AM
• F4_5-30-18 Community Meeting Summary on Paso Boundary Modification.pdf (1.2MB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:11AM
• F4_05-30-18 PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE, Paso Robles Basin Boundary Modif Notice.pdf (518.7kB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:13AM

5. Attach a copy of all comments regarding the proposed boundary modification received by the requesting agency and a summary of any responses made by the requesting agency.

Attachment(s):

• F5_Myhre letter re proposed boundary revision.pdf (349.4kB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:14AM

G. General Existing Groundwater Management

1. Explain how sustainable groundwater management exists or could likely be achieved in the basin:

inable groundwater management could likely be achieved in the modified Upper Valley Aquifer and Paso Robles Area subbasins by implementing projects to reduce groundwater extraction, promote groundwater recharge, and maintain or increase groundwater levels. Examples of projects that will contribute to sustainable management include: ¿Capital projects such as municipal water system leak detection and repair, municipal wastewater treatment and groundwater injection, and municipal stormwater capture and treatment ¿Incentives for water-intensive industrial facilities (typically wineries, produce producers, and breweries in these subbasins) to collect, process, and recycle wastewater and stormwater onsite ¿Increased use of recycled water to irrigate vineyards ¿Implementing a recharge net metering program similar to the program being implemented in Pajaro Valley. ¿Additional education and outreach efforts for the CA Industrial Stormwater Program, with enforcement by municipalities for violators ¿Private well groundwater level monitoring ¿Groundwater pumping reductions and incentives for termination of groundwater wells ¿Environmental projects such as the Salinas River Arundo Eradication Project, implemented by the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County to enhance streamflow and reduce water consumption by removing Arundo, an invasive giant reed. Phases I and II treated the area surrounding the Salinas River in the existing Upper Valley Aquifer and Paso Robles Area subbasins; Phase III is in progress and will treat additional areas farther downstream.

2. Explain how the proposed boundary modification would affect the ability of adjacent groundwater basins to sustainably manage groundwater in those groundwater basins.

This modification will simplify the funding, governance, and implementation of sustainable management projects. Given limited resources and statutory deadlines, it will facilitate sustainable management for SVBGSA to focus on Monterey County and for the San Luis Obispo County GSAs to focus on San Luis Obispo County. Two significant subbasins adjoin the two affected subbasins: the Salinas Valley - Forebay subbasin adjoins the Upper Valley subbasin, and the Salinas Valley - Atascadero subbasin adjoins the Paso Robles subbasin. While the effect on adjoining subbasins will be minimal, this boundary modification will provide some benefits to the adjoining subbasins. The main benefit will be from developing regional consistency in which GSAs manage local areas. For example, both the City of Paso Robles and the County of San Luis Obispo are GSAs in both the Paso Robles subbasin and the adjoining Atascadero subbasin. This basin boundary modification will allow these GSAs to develop complementary GSPs for the two subbasins without requiring approval from the Salinas Valley Basin GSA, which has no interest in the Atascadero subbasin. Similarly, the Salinas Valley Basin GSA will be able to develop complementary GSPs for the Upper Valley and Forebay subbasins without requiring approval from San Luis Obispo County GSAs.

3. Provide a historical summary of the sustainable management of groundwater levels in the proposed basin(s) or subbasin(s).

Groundwater in the Upper Valley Aquifer subbasin has been managed by the Monterey County Water Resources Agency since 1947. Groundwater levels have been maintained in the Upper Valley through a series of projects and actions including installation and operation of the Nacimiento and San Antonio Dams. The groundwater management activities have resulted in relatively stable groundwater levels in the Upper Valley Aquifer subbasin. Figure 3-11 of the 2016 State of the Basin report shows hydrographs from the Upper Valley Aquifer subbasin (see attachment G3:_Upper_Valley_Hydrographs.pdf). These hydrographs demonstrate that groundwater levels in the Upper Valley Aquifer subbasin have not declined since at least 1973. Since 1998, local stakeholders and agencies, including the Monterey County Water Resources Agency, the City of Paso Robles, and the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District have worked with pumpers to form an organized approach to groundwater management in the Paso Robles Area subbasin. A 2007 monitoring report (Todd) found that the Basin was being operated below the safe yield, although some areas were experiencing significant declines in groundwater elevations. A 2009 study found that groundwater pumping was approaching the safe yield of the Basin, which led to the recommendation to create a groundwater management plan (GMP) (GEI, 2011, attached in Part L1). For the GMP, the Paso Robles Basin was divided into eight subareas. The North Gabilan, South Gabilan, and Bradley subareas lie entirely or partially in Monterey County, and represent the area of the existing Paso Robles Area subbasin that will be included in the Upper Valley Aquifer subbasin under the proposed modification. For all three subareas, the recommended Basin Management Objective was to maintain groundwater levels. There is limited available groundwater data and low overall water demand and groundwater use in the North and South Gabilan subareas. The single hydrograph for the Bradley subarea indicates that flow from the Salinas River, along with releases from Nacimiento Reservoir, help maintain groundwater levels in the subarea; there is no evidence that suggests that groundwater levels are declining to the point of causing problems for local groundwater users. For the Bradley subarea, the GMP recommended continued and improved monitoring of groundwater conditions. Critical conditions of overdraft do not occur in the Monterey County area that will become part of the Upper Valley subbasin as part of this modification. The modification is therefore consistent with the current listing of the Upper Valley subbasin as not critically overdrafted while the Paso Robles Area subbasin is subject to critical conditions of overdraft. The GMP also recommended potential reestablishment of the cloud-seeding program in the Nacimiento and San Antonio watersheds, which is estimated to have increased inflow into the Nacimiento and San Antonio reservoirs by about 20 percent.

Attachment(s):

• G3_Upper_Valley_Hydrographs.pdf (10.5MB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:21AM

4. Discuss potential impacts to state programs resulting from the proposed boundary modification, including, but not limited to, the California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM), Groundwater Management Plans developed pursuant to AB 3030, Groundwater Sustainability Plans developed pursuant to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, any applicable state or regional board plans, and other water management and land use programs.

The Monterey County Water Resources Agency reports CASGEM data for the Monterey County portion of the Paso Robles Area subbasin. The San Luis Obispo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District reports CASGEM data for the San Luis Obispo County portion of the subbasin. Because the proposed modification will adjust the subbasin boundary to coincide with the county line, each agency?s monitoring and reporting area will not be affected. The modification will likely enhance CASGEM reporting. Currently, multiple agencies are responsible for CASGEM reporting for the Paso Robles subbasin. After this basin boundary modification is enacted, a single reporting CASGEM agency will be in charge of reporting for each subbasin, simplifying and coordinating the data collection in each subbasin. The modified area will require management under a Groundwater Sustainability Plan adopted by January 2022 as part of the Upper Valley subbasin. If the modified area remained in the Paso Robles subbasin, it would be managed under a Plan adopted by January 2020. The portion of the Paso Robles subbasin north of the county line is not critically overdrafted; the 2022 deadline is more appropriate for managing conditions in the modified area.

H. Local Support

1. Provide any evidence that sufficient information was provided to affected agencies and systems regarding the proposed boundary modification.

Attachment(s):

• H1_Paso Robles Subbasin Boundary Modification Notice Combined.pdf (626.2kB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:21AM

2. Provide a list of all affected agencies and affected systems that submitted comments and/or documents in support or opposition to the proposed boundary. The agency submitting their support or opposition for a boundary modification must provide a copy of a resolution formally adopted by the decision-making body of the affected agency or system or a letter signed by an executive officer or other official with appropriate delegated authority who represents the agency or system. Attach copies of the resolution and/or signed letter detailing the support or opposition submitted.

Three of the Paso Robles Basin GSAs submitted letters of support: the Shandon-San Juan Water District GSA, the City of Paso Robles GSA, and the County of San Luis Obispo. The County of San Luis Obispo resolution states that the Board of Supervisors of San Luis Obispo County supports the request acting in both its general capacity and as the governing body of the Paso Basin – County of San Luis Obispo GSA.

Attachment(s):

• H2_SupportResolution_County&GSA.pdf (1.7MB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:23AM
• H2_Shandon-San Juan Water District - SVB GSA 118 basin boundary change support letter.pdf (69.1kB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:23AM
• H2_2018_GSA_res_SVBGSA.pdf (81kB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:24AM

3. Provide any evidence that rebuts any opposition to the proposed boundary modification.

N/A

I. Hydrogeologic Conceptual Model

1. Principal aquifer units within requested basin.
2. Lateral boundaries of the proposed basin, including:
   1. Geologic features that significantly impede or impact groundwater flow.
   2. Aquifer characteristics that significantly impede or impact groundwater flow.
   3. Significant geologic and hydrologic features and conditions of the principle aquifer units, as appropriate, including information regarding the confined or unconfined nature of the aquifer, facies changes, truncation of units, the presence of faults or folds that impede groundwater flow, or other groundwater flow restricting features.
   4. Key surface water bodies, groundwater divides and significant recharge sources.
3. Recharge and discharge areas within the basin.
4. Definable bottom of the basin or subbasin.

The department may waive this requirement for an internal boundary modification if the requesting agency is able to demonstrate that the proposed boundary modification is unlikely to affect sustainable groundwater management.

Attachment(s):

• I1_HydrogeologicConceptualModel_2018.pdf (1.1MB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:25AM

L. Technical Studies for All Jurisdictional Modifications

1. A water management plan that covers or is in the immediate vicinity of the proposed basin or portion of the proposed basin and satisfies the requirement of Water Code sections 10753.7(a) or 10727 by attaching one of the following:
   1. An adopted groundwater management plan, a basin wide management plan, or other integrated regional water management program or plan.
   2. Management pursuant to an adjudication action.
   3. One or more technical studies that cover the relevant portion of a basin or subbasin and adjacent areas.

Attachment(s):

• L1_ReportContents.pdf (156.6kB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:25AM
• L1_State_of_the_SRGBasin_Jan16_2015.pdf (15.5MB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:26AM
• L1_201103 - Paso Basin Final GMP.pdf (14.3MB) Uploaded on 07/03/2018 at 08:27AM

2. A statement of the existing and planned coordination of sustainable groundwater management activities and responsibilities where required.

The Salinas Valley Basin GSA will be responsible for sustainable groundwater management in the expanded Upper Valley Aquifer subbasin. The five coordinated GSAs in the San Luis Obispo County portion of the existing Paso Robles Basin have agreed to develop a single GSP for the basin, and will jointly be responsible for sustainable groundwater management in the remaining area of the Paso Robles Area subbasin, south of the Monterey – San Luis Obispo county line. The two sets of GSAs have been in close contact during this basin boundary modification process, and are committed to interbasin coordination. The Paso Robles Basin GSAs are developing a list of important outreach points for interbasin coordination.