What is Groundwater?
Groundwater is water held beneath the Earth’s surface in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock. It’s a beneficial resource nationally, and within California, as it is used for drinking water by more than 50 percent of the people in the United States, including almost everyone who lives in rural areas. California’s total water supply consists of about 38 percent groundwater, the largest use being crop irrigation.
Managing groundwater is critical. That’s why the state of California passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which requires the adoption of groundwater management plans to sustain groundwater resources, and assist with maintaining reliable and resilient water supplies throughout California.
California’s total water supply consists of about 38 percent groundwater, the largest use being crop irrigation.
About WPGSA
The West Placer Groundwater Sustainability Agency was formed in 2017 to implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act passed in 2014. The Act requires the formation of such agencies to manage local groundwater basins. Placer County, the cities of Roseville and Lincoln, Placer County Water Agency, and in participation with the California American Water Company, make up the West Placer Groundwater Sustainability Agency (WPGSA) and manage a portion of the North American Subbasin.
The WPGSA implements activities that preserve and enhance the current state of groundwater for our cities, communities, agriculture and the environment. More specifically, this locally-controlled effort will protect the basin from overdraft, create sustainable water supplies for agriculture and current and future development, support a stable and growing local economy, and contribute to land and habitat conservation.
The West Placer County group of agencies has been working proactively to manage the region’s groundwater for decades. Some of these agencies have implemented a conjunctive use program (the practice of storing surface water in a groundwater basin in wet years and withdrawing it from the basin in dry years) to balance water supply needs in the region. As a result, the North American Subbasin is very healthy and has been replenished during wet years.
The West Placer County group of agencies has been working proactively to manage the region’s groundwater for decades.
Groundwater Sustainability Plan
The Act requires Groundwater Sustainability Agencies to develop and implement a Groundwater Sustainability Plan – a guiding document to help agencies maintain sustainable groundwater supplies. One such basin is the North American Subbasin (NASb) in Sutter, Placer, and Sacramento counties. The Final Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the North American Subbasin (NASb) Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) has been adopted. The GSP can be accessed, along with a schedule of public hearings, at nasbgroundwater.org. All GSP Annual Reports can be viewed at the DWR SGMA Portal .
Public Outreach
We want to hear your ideas and concerns, as groundwater users and stakeholders. Those interested in the implementation of the plan as well as to keep updated with groundwater management in West Placer are encouraged to sign up for email notifications (found below). Please note: To receive specific updates on the Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the region, visit the North American Subbasin GSP to sign up.
The partners of WPGSA meet several times throughout the year, including holding public meetings to share key information as it becomes available. Get the latest meeting materials and summaries here.
Timeline
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June 2016 through June 2017
Established the Western Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
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June 2016 through January 2022
Develop a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for west Placer County. This plan provides for sustainably managed groundwater that meets the requirements of the state’s new groundwater laws, and outlines how the GSA will implement, manage and measure specific actions for the health and viability of the basins. The agencies are on track to submit the GSP by the due date of January 1, 2022. Read the Notice of Intent to develop the GSP.
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January 2022
Begin management of Groundwater Sustainability Plan for west Placer County.
Stay Informed
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