Public Comments

GSP Initial Notification

3-049 MONTECITO
Montecito Groundwater Basin GSA

04/30/2019   04/30/2019
  1. Single GSP for the entire basin
  2. Montecito Groundwater Basin GSA (Exclusive)
    1. NA

  3. Nick Turner
    (Montecito Groundwater Basin GSA)
    583 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara, CA93108
    1 805 969 2271
    info@montecitogsa.com

  4. The Montecito Groundwater Basin GSA (GSA) has retained a consultant to assist in the preparation of a SGMA compliant GSP. The consultant is preparing GSPs for several other Groundwater Basin and has assisted Montecito Water District (MWD) with many SGMA and non-SGMA related projects. The MWD has worked toward SGMA implementation since mid-2016 even though the Montecito Groundwater Basin (Basin) was originally prioritized as "very low" priority. Draft recommendations from DWR are for the Basin to be reprioritized as "medium" priority with final designation expected in Fall 2019. To date, MWD has voluntarily implemented CASGEM, applied for a Basin Boundary Modification (BBM), and formed a GSA in accordance with SGMA requirements. The BBM was approved and finalized in February 2019 and the Montecito Groundwater Basin GSA was designated as the exclusive GSA for the Basin in November 2018. In the conduct of these activities, MWD has developed a stakeholder process that includes a stakeholder database, frequent newsletter updates, a SGMA website, and multiple stakeholder workshops in addition to numerous noticed meetings and SGMA related discussions at MWD Board meetings. These tools will continue to be utilized and refined by the GSA. Additional tools will be developed as appropriate including a Comprehensive Stakeholder Communications and Engagement Plan. The MWD Public Information Officer will work with the GSP consultant to implement a SGMA compliant stakeholder process. Outreach tools that will, or may be, used for the GSP preparation process include multiple public and stakeholder workshops conducted at appropriate GSP development milestones, development and use of Advisory Committees made up of various stakeholder groups, customer billing inserts, and a public facing data management system with stakeholder notification of new meetings and content. Such tools will be described in the Stakeholder Engagement Plan.