The three groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) in the Merced Subbasin (Merced Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency, Merced Irrigation-Urban Groundwater Sustainability Agency, and Turner Island Groundwater Sustainability Agency) will host two public workshops to discuss the Groundwater Sustainability Plan the agencies are developing for the Merced Subbasin.
The Merced Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency was created for the purpose of forming a joint powers agency, separate from its Members, that will be the Groundwater Sustainable Agency (GSA) for a portion of the Merced Groundwater Subbasin. The Merced Subbasin GSA will develop, adopt, and implement a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for a portion of the Merced Subbasin in order to implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act’s (SGMA) requirements and achieve the sustainability goals outlined in SGMA.
During the development and implementation of the Merced Subbasin GSP, the GSA will involve the public and local stakeholders through outreach and engagement efforts. Additionally, the Merced Subbasin GSA intends to coordinate and cooperate with other GSAs operating in the Merced Groundwater Subbasin in order to meet the sustainability requirements outlined in SGMA.
Member Agencies
Member agencies include the County of Merced, County of Mariposa, Le Grand-Athlone Water District, Merquin County Water District, Plainsburg Irrigation District and Stevinson Water District. Participating contracting entities include Lone Tree Mutual Water Company and Sandy Mush Mutual Water Company.
As part of developing the Groundwater Sustainability Plan, the three Groundwater Sustainability Agencies in the Merced Subbasin will inform and involve interested and affected individuals and organizations (stakeholders) and the general public.
The Groundwater Sustainability Agencies for the Merced Groundwater Subbasin have formed a Stakeholder Committee to advise the GSAs and governing bodies on the topics of groundwater conditions, management issues and needs, and projects and management actions to improve sustainability of the groundwater basin.
Lacey Kiriakou, Merced County Water Resources Coordinator
For more information on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, please visit the California Department of Water Resources website at: CA DWR Sustainable Groundwater Management