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� A I I I•i I ". I' . I i i RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES MW& Board Memorandum r rrr r UTILITIES BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: November 19, 2010 ITEM NO: A SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING -RENEWED NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A GROUNDWATER MAN+..GEMENT PLAN FOR THE RIVERSIDE BASIN ISSUE: Conduct a public hearing,and consider renewing adoption of a resolution of intention to draft a Groundwater Basin Management Plan (GWMP) for the Riverside Basin, which will be prepared simultaneously with Western Municipal Water District's GWMP for the Arlington Basin. RECOMMENDATIONS: That the Board of Public Utilities: 1. Conduct the initial public hearing regarding the City of Riverside's renewed intent to draft a groundwater !management plan (GWMP) for the Riverside Basin in accordance with the requirements of Water Code sections 10750 et. seq. and to receive public comment regarding the intention to draft the GWMP; and 2. Recommend ti, at the City Council adopt a renewed resolution of intention to draftthe GWMP forthe Riverside Basi, . BACKGROUND: In 9992, 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 2002, new legislation, 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. The GWMP provides the fray rework for coordinating groundwater management activities among stakeholders. The plan would identify to basin management goals and objectives needed to guide efforts to effectively manage the groundwatE - basin as a safe and sustainable water supply, The Riverside Basin encompasses portions of Riverside, Calton and unincorporated Riverside County area. The goal of the Riverside Basin GWMP will be determined through a stakeholder process,which will include the City of Riverside. It is anticipated that these goals would relate to ensuring that groundwater remains a reliable and cost-effective water supply to meet current and future municipal, industrial, and agricultural needs. On December 16, 2008. Riverside adopted a Resolution of Intent to draft the Riverside Basin GWMP, and some of the plan chapters have been prepared and shared with stakeholders. However, the preparation of the Riverside-Arlington Basin Numerical Groundwater Flow Model required more time than originally anticipated and was recently completed.The model is required to establish the basin Safe Yield and be able to run future groundwa:�r management scenarios. Water Code10753.4(a) requires that the GWMP be prepared and adopted within two years of the date of the adoption of the resolution of intention. If the plan is not adopted within two years,the resolution of intention expires,and no plan may be adopted except pursuant to a new resolution of in-:ention adopted. The Riverside Basin GWMP will be completed in mid-2011 and presented to the City Co.:ncil for consideration following a public hearing process. Western Municipal Water