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� A f !1 ; H is '+ I '• .. �. RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum P U B L I C U 7 I L 13 i I: 5 BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: November 2, 2012 ITEM NO: B SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING —RIVERSIDE BASIN GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN ISSUES: That the Board of Public Utilities: 1) conduct a public hearing; and 2) recommend that the City Council adopt the Riverside Basin Groundwater Management Plan (GWMP) which was prepared in accordance with Assembly Bill 3030, Senate Bill 1938, Assembly Bill 359 and Water Code Section 10750. RECOMMENDATIONS: That the Board of Public Utilities: 1. Conduct a public hearing on the Riverside Basin Groundwater Management Plan; and 2. Recommend that City Council adopt the Riverside Basin Groundwater Management Plan. BACKGROUND: In 1997, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill (AB) 3030, which was designated to provide local public agencies increased management authority over their groundwater resources. In September 7002, Senate Bill (SB) 1938 expanded AB 3030 by requiring GWMPs to include certain specific components in order to be eligible for grant funding for various types of groundwater related projects. in June 2011, AB 359, further expanded AB 3030 by requiring GWMPs to include a map identifying recharge areas. The Riverside Basin encompasses portions of Riverside, Colton and unincorporated Riverside County area. The goal of the Riverside Basin GWMP is to provide a planning framework to operate and manage the groundwater basin in a sustainable manner to ensure a long-term reliable supply for beneficial uses among all stakeholders in the basin. On November 19, 7010, Riverside adopted a Resolution of Intent to draft the Riverside Basin GWMP. Water Code 10753.4(a) requires that the GWMP be prepared and adopted within two years of the date of the adoption of the resolution of intention. The adoption of a groundwater management plan is encouraged by the California Legislature, but is not required by law. On October 17, 7017, Western Municipal Water District adopted a GWMP for the Arlington Basin, which encompasses portions of the City of Riverside, as well as unincorporated Riverside County area. The City participated as a stakeholder in that process. Likewise, Western Municipal Water District participated as a stakeholder in the Riverside Basin GWMP. Both the Riverside and Arlington basin management plans were funded jointly by RPU and Western. The Riverside Basin GWMP will not alter any provisions of the 1969 judgment entered in the case entitled Western Municipal Water District of Riverside County et at. v. East San Bernardino County Water District, but requires approval by the court-appointed Watermaster and concurrence by the other stakeholders in the basin (Attachment 2). The Plan imposes no obligations on any water purveyors or extractors and participation is purely voluntary.