Proposal for: Consulting Services for Development of ... Prepared for: Cuyama Basin Groundwater...

Prepared for:

Cuyama Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency

Proposal for:

Consulting Services for Development of Groundwater Sustainability Plan

Prepared by:

September 5, 2017

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HydroMetrics Water Resources Inc. 1814 Franklin Street, Suite 501 Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 903-0458 (510) 903-0468 (fax)

Mr. Matt Young

Santa Barbara County Water Agency

130 E. Victoria Street, Suite 200

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

September 1, 2017

Subject: Proposal for Developing a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the Cuyama

Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (CBGSA)

Mr. Young,

HydroMetrics Water Resources Inc. (WRI), in association with Kearns & West, Inc. (K&W), Bondy

Groundwater Consulting, Inc. (BGC), and Montgomery & Associates (M&A), appreciates the

opportunity to submit this proposal in response to the Cuyama Basin Groundwater Sustainability

Agency Request for Proposal for Consulting Services for Development of Groundwater Sustainability Plan.

From our unique team, we have assembled a team of highly motivated professionals with

expertise tailored specifically for the needs of this project. We offer:

Unique Insight into the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA): Derrik Williams,

our project manager, is a recognized leader in California groundwater – he has been at the table

with the Department of Water Resources (DWR) developing SGMA, shaping its implementation,

and guiding the development of best management practices.

Unparalleled Expertise in Groundwater Hydrology: Unlike other consulting firms, the core

business of HydroMetrics WRI, BGC, and M&A is groundwater hydrology – our team has

decades of experience characterizing and modeling groundwater basins similar to Cuyama Basin.

Specialized Expertise in Stakeholder Engagement: We believe the highest priority for the GSP

will be building a shared vision of sustainability among stakeholders; an imperative for avoiding

risks associated with poor communication, contentious relationships, and misinformation about

the GSP process. K&W offers decades of specialized experience in stakeholder engagement,

public outreach, and conflict resolution.

Local Presence and Regional Experience: Bryan Bondy, our local project lead, offers critical local

understanding of groundwater management challenges in the project area; HydroMetrics WRI is

a demonstrated leader in groundwater management throughout California; and M&A offers

regional perspective on groundwater management through their decades of experience in

Arizona, where groundwater regulations have existed for over 35 years.

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HydroMetrics Water Resources Inc. 1814 Franklin Street, Suite 501 Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 903-0458 (510) 903-0468 (fax)

In addition to our demonstrated expertise, our team has the staff capacity and resources to work

closely with the CBGSA to bring stakeholders together and complete the technical requirements

for adoption of a GSP that meets DWR requirements. We look forward to an opportunity to work

with the CBGSA and other stakeholders on this project. Please feel free to contact me by phone

at (510) 903-0358 ext. 301, or email at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Derrik Williams, President

HydroMetrics Water Resources Inc.

mailto:[email protected]

Cuyama Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan Page 3 of 30

Project Team The HydroMetrics WRI team comprises of four firms: HydroMetrics Water Resources Inc. (WRI),

Kearns & West, Inc. (K&W), Bondy Groundwater Consulting, Inc. (BGC), and Montgomery &

Associates (M&A). HydroMetrics WRI is the lead firm. Our team was assembled specifically to bring

the local presence, statewide experience, SGMA expertise, stakeholder facilitation services, and

technical excellence needed to successfully and efficiently develop the Cuyama Basin Groundwater

Sustainability Agency (CBGSA) Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). Our team is based on long-

standing relationships: HydroMetrics WRI staff has known and worked with staff from each of the

firms for decades, including on recent Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) projects.

Our team is at the forefront of developing successful groundwater management strategies in both

urban and agricultural basins throughout California and the Western United States. Not only do we

bring the necessary technical capabilities needed for developing effective and practical GSPs; we also

bring decades of experience aligning diverse and competing stakeholders to a common platform for

effective water resource management. We have developed integrated solutions and implemented

successful multi-party groundwater management plans in basins that, similar to the Cuyama Valley

Groundwater Basin (Cuyama Basin or Basin), have competing water users and uses.

HydroMetrics WRI

HydroMetrics WRI is one of the few California

consulting firms with groundwater as its core

business. Our staff of experienced hydrologists,

hydrogeologists, engineers, and water

management policy professionals is unique.

HydroMetrics WRI specializes in groundwater

planning at a regional scale and implementing

local groundwater projects to improve water

supply reliability and sustainability. We provide

targeted expertise to clients for developing,

protecting, and managing both groundwater and

surface water resources. We have a reputation

for providing perceptive, quality analyses that

yield practical solutions to water resource issues.

We have prepared several groundwater

management plans under AB3030/SB1938,

including for the Soquel-Aptos area and Olympic

Valley Basin, and have managed adjudicated

groundwater basins, most prominently the

Seaside Basin. Our staff includes two retired

general managers of water agencies. They bring

practical experience with governance and policy

issues and have hands-on experience managing

water resources in agricultural and urban

settings at both local and regional scales.

HydroMetrics WRI has been actively involved

with SGMA since its inception. We have served

as close advisors to the Department of Water

Resources (DWR), local water agencies, local

stakeholders (including growers), and non-

governmental organizations such as the

California Water Foundation, where we helped

develop and direct statewide SGMA policy. We

have led all aspects of SGMA implementation

including assisting Groundwater Sustainability

Agencies form, modifying groundwater basin

boundaries for the Santa Margarita, Santa Cruz

Mid-County, and Pajaro Valley Basins, guiding

early GSP development for the Santa Cruz Mid-

County Basin, and creating best management

practices on behalf of DWR. Our unique

relationship with SGMA policy makers and

implementers allows us to effectively resolve

issues on our clients’ behalf.


As a statewide leader in groundwater modeling,

HydroMetrics WRI has a reputation for

developing and implementing practical and

effective models for groundwater management.

We have developed and applied groundwater

models in some of California’s most important

agricultural, coastal, and urban basins such as

the Pajaro Valley and Livermore Valley Basins.

HydroMetrics WRI is built around a culture of

providing our clients the best understanding

possible of their groundwater basins and

partnering with them to establish and achieve

groundwater management goals and objectives

that are practical and effective. We pride

ourselves on consistently providing value-added

service that positions our clients to successfully

address the challenges and complexities of

integrated water management.

Kearns & West

K&W is a woman-owned collaboration, conflict

resolution, and strategic communications firm

founded in 1984. They bring an extensive resume

of assisting diverse stakeholders to build

agreements around water supply, water

allocation, and resource management problems,

and have contributed significantly to SGMA

development as well as initial implementation in

multiple sub-basins.

K&W’s collaboration initiatives are designed to

take a diverse range of issues, opinions, goals

and interests and organize them into clear,

productive processes that lead to successful

conclusions. The K&W “tool kit” encompasses

assessment, outreach, engagement and

collaboration, process and meeting design,

facilitation, mediation, environmental dispute

resolution, public involvement, and development

of communications tools tailored to each project’s

unique issues. Collectively, these tools and

techniques build productive stakeholder

relationships, collaborations, and strategic

partnerships to support long-term, sustainable

solutions. K&W’s staff combine their deep

experience designing and facilitating stakeholder

collaborative processes with strong up-front

strategic planning, mixed with an adaptive

approach that allows them to be nimble and

effective in keeping processes focused on

achieving project objectives.

The K&W team brings specific experience

working with eligible local agencies,

stakeholders, and the interested public in the

context of SGMA. K&W has a practical working

knowledge of SGMA that includes playing an

active role in developing policy

recommendations that informed the SGMA

legislation. K&W staff have conducted multiple

assessments and facilitated multiple GSA

formation work group sessions, workshops, and

public meetings. K&W’s direct SGMA experience

includes contracts working with both the State

Water Resources Control Board and DWR on

projects specific to SGMA outreach and

facilitation.

While K&W makes it a point to understand

project content, their collaboration work is

successful because they remain impartial about

subject matter while focusing on the parties, their

interests and desired outcomes to build trust and

transparency. K&W’s approach emphasizes

building understanding through exchange of

reliable information, effective communication

customized to project needs, meaningful

decision-making, and conflict resolution where

necessary. This approach enables K&W to

navigate controversial projects and maintain

stakeholder confidence. Clients that K&W has

supported through SGMA and groundwater

management projects include: Butte County GSA

Formation Assessment with HydroMetrics WRI


(four subbasins); Santa Cruz GSA Outreach

(HydroMetrics WRI is technical consultant); Bay

Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency for

SGMA Strategic Advice; Merced County

Groundwater Sustainability Agency Formation;

and Water Foundation Groundwater Stakeholder

Dialog Process Design and Implementation (to

inform legislation resulting in SGMA) and

subsequent support for development of resource

materials for SGMA implementation.

Bondy Groundwater Consulting, Inc.

BGC was founded in 2016 to service the growing

need for groundwater professionals to address

groundwater management, planning, and

development needs in California. Mr. Bondy

has 20+ years of private and public-sector

experience conducting a wide range of

groundwater projects in California, including

SGMA planning, groundwater basin studies, and

groundwater modeling. BGC is located in

Ventura, California.

Mr. Bondy has considerable experience guiding

the technical and stakeholder aspects of GSPs.

Mr. Bondy has completed numerous

groundwater studies and management plans

prior to SGMA and is currently involved in

various capacities in the development of seven

GSPs. Mr. Bondy is a Board-appointed member

of the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management

Agency’s Technical Advisory Group that is

reviewing four GSPs currently under

development. Mr. Bondy is an advisor to Yuima

Municipal Water District for the San Luis Rey

Valley GSP and is part of a consultant team

advising the City of San Diego on the

development of GSPs in multiple groundwater

basins in San Diego County. Mr. Bondy has

worked with the Las Posas Valley Basin

Groundwater Users Group for nearly a decade

and recently facilitated the group’s development

of a proposed groundwater pumping allocation

plan for the GSP.

Montgomery & Associates

M&A is one of the most accomplished

groundwater consultants in the Western United

States. For more than 30 years, they have

achieved successful outcomes for clients in the

municipal, agricultural, land development, tribal,

industrial, mining, and energy sectors.

Over the past year, M&A has provided

consulting to several clients in California.

Specifically, M&A teamed with HydroMetrics

WRI to assess recharge capacity and develop

grant funding for the Tulare Irrigation District

and is currently conducting a groundwater

modeling study of aquifer storage and recovery

in the Santa Margarita Basin. Additionally,

M&A is providing groundwater modeling

services and grant funding assistance to the

Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency for a

planned enterprise groundwater bank.

In addition to recent work for SGMA, M&A has

decades of experience assisting clients address

water resource challenges under groundwater

management laws in other states, including

Arizona and Texas. Their experienced staff of over

40 groundwater professionals specializes in

hydrology, geology, soil science, policy and

regulatory affairs, groundwater modeling, GIS

analyses and 3D visualization, database

management, and instrumentation and monitoring.

Areas of specific expertise that will benefit the

CBGSA include:

Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) – M&A is a

demonstrated expert in MAR. They have

provided planning, investigation, and design


services for over 30 recharge facilities over the

past 30 years. The recharge projects M&A has

participated in account for more than two-thirds

of the Colorado River water stored in Arizona.

Modeling & Data Management – M&A has

developed numerous groundwater models to

assist water managers make informed financial

decisions, usually under highly dynamic and

uncertain conditions. In most cases, modeling

projects include comprehensive data

management services, where data are organized,

analyzed, and reported using the latest software,

such as tools for on-line data serving on websites

and data portals.

Water Policy, Planning, and Economics – M&A

professionals have expertise in water policy and

regulations, environmental economics, water

demand forecasting and analysis, and water

conservation planning. They work with clients to

develop reliable, affordable water resource

portfolios that are aligned with their needs. Their

planning services typically entail quantifying

use, assessing trends, and developing forecasts of

future demand.

Our team, as depicted on the flow diagram

below, comprises motivated senior

professionals who will build a

constructive and collaborative working

environment among the GSA members

and stakeholders, clearly communicate

technical concepts to stakeholders and the

public, and provide sound technical

analyses and practicable strategies to

develop a broadly accepted GSP.

Key Success Factors for GSP:

Stakeholder Consensus

Clear Communication

Technical Excellence ● Practicable Strategies


Organizational Chart for Cuyama GSP Development

We are committed to complete execution of this project. Based on the level of effort envisioned to develop

the GSP, our team members will commit the following percentages of available work hours during the

period January 1, 2018 through January 31, 2020.

Percentage Time Commitment for Project Team

Team Member Commitment Team Member Commitment

Derrik Williams 20% J. Michael Harty 5%

Cameron Tana 10% Bryan Bondy 30%

Georgina King 10% Tim Leo 15%

Laura Brown 5% Staffan Schorr 5%

Ellen Cross 25% Colin Kikuchi 15%

Short biographical sketches for the senior professionals who will work closely with the CBGSA are

provided on the following pages.


Derrik Williams, P.G., C.Hg.

Project Manager

Derrik Williams, a California Professional

Geologist and Certified Hydrogeologist, is

President of HydroMetrics WRI. He will be the

project manager and principal point of contact

for the CBGSA.

Mr. Williams has more than 30 years of

experience in applied geology and

hydrogeology. His project experience spans all

aspects of groundwater resource management.

He has facilitated stakeholder consensus and

developed groundwater management plans in

agricultural basins with contentious water rights,

and has testified in court regarding

groundwater-surface water interactions.

California Groundwater Leadership

He is an established leader in statewide

groundwater policy. As a member of the

Groundwater Committee of the ACWA since

2008, Derrik helped shape the California

Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring

Program (CASGEM) and helped develop

ACWA's Groundwater Framework document. He

also drafted ACWA’s Guidelines for Groundwater

Monitoring. Derrik is currently working with

DWR to develop the state’s SGMA

implementation process, including the pending

best management practice for Sustainable

Management Criteria (SMC). He reviewed and

commented on the SGMA legislation while it

was being drafted, and currently chairs ACWA’s

SGMA Best Management Practices work group.

He was a contributor to the California Water

Foundation’s GSP regulations workshops. He

has been invited to, and participated in,

Stanford’s Water in the West meetings on data

and modeling in SGMA and the Groundwater

Resources Association of California’s

Contemporary Groundwater Issues Council.

Groundwater Modeling

Mr. Williams is an established expert in

groundwater modeling. He has managed and

applied groundwater models in the Kings

Groundwater Basin, the Santa Clara Valley, San

Benito County, Santa Cruz County, Monterey

County, San Luis Obispo County, Placer County,

Alameda County, Ventura County, Los Angeles

County, and Santa Barbara County, among other

areas in California.

Ellen Cross

Ellen Cross drives diverse stakeholders forward

to develop and realize shared vision and success.

Ellen has more than 27 years of experience in the

California water and environmental science

industry creating successful, innovative solutions

through forums for vision, collaboration, and

achievement. Ellen brings a large-scale view of

proven strategic and tactical approaches to

develop outcomes that meet multi-stakeholder

objectives. Ellen has a history of creating neutral

forums to work on critical topics where

communication and leadership are key to

moving complex issues forward.

Facilitator

In the area of emerging challenges, Ellen has

successfully facilitated public and private entities

on climate change, restoration in the Delta, water

scarcity, sea level rise and flood protection. Ellen

has facilitated initiatives that envision multi-

stakeholder success and operationalizes the

tactics to achieve results on policy, governance,

funding, institutional and technical goals to

ensure sustained success. Specific to

groundwater projects, Ellen has developed

strategies to develop holistic integrated scopes

for Fox Canyon GSA, Mid Kaweah, Tulare,

Irvine Ranch Water District, Kings Canyon,

Department of Water Resources, and San Luis

Obispo.


Bryan Bondy, P.G. C.Hg.

Mr. Bondy, a California Professional Geologist

and Certified Hydrogeologist, has considerable

experience guiding the technical and stakeholder

aspects of GSPs. Mr. Bondy has completed

numerous groundwater studies and

management plans prior to SGMA and is

currently involved in various capacities in the

development of seven GSPs.

GSP Advisor

Mr. Bondy is a Board-appointed member of the

Fox Canyon Groundwater Management

Agency’s Technical Advisory Group that is

reviewing four GSPs currently under

development. Mr. Bondy is an advisor to Yuima

Municipal Water District for the San Luis Rey

Valley GSP and is part of a consultant team

advising the City of San Diego on the

development of GSPs in multiple groundwater

basins in San Diego County. Mr. Bondy has

worked with the Las Posas Valley Basin

Groundwater Users Group for nearly a decade

and recently facilitated the group’s development

of a proposed groundwater pumping allocation

plan for the GSP.

Tim Leo, P.G., C.Hg.

Tim Leo, a California Professional Geologist and

Certified Hydrogeologist, is a Principal and

Director of California Operations at M&A.

For nearly 30 years, Mr. Leo has managed and

participated in numerous multidisciplinary

water resources and groundwater restoration

projects throughout the western U.S. His work

in Arizona, where groundwater has been state-

managed for over 35 years, has included a

variety of projects related to groundwater

resource management, including aquifer

protection permitting, groundwater supply

protection, and regulatory permitting. For nearly

15 years, he has directed a regional groundwater

restoration project in the Sacramento area.

Analytical Hydrogeology

Mr. Leo specializes in analytical hydrogeology.

He has decades of experience developing and

applying groundwater modeling, conceptual

models and water budgets, and groundwater

system characterization and testing.

SGMA Experience

Mr. Leo is also conducting project work related

to SGMA, including groundwater recharge

studies in Tulare County and the Antelope

Valley. On both of these projects, he has

provided technical support on grant applications.

Cameron Tana, P.E.

A co-founder of HydroMetrics WRI, Cameron Tana has 17 years of experience as a hydrologist focused on assisting public agencies in California

manage their groundwater resources. He is

experienced at communicating technical findings

to advance groundwater management, taking

into account legal, economic, and political

challenges.

SGMA Related Experience

Cameron has supported SGMA implementation

for the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater

Agency, presenting to the Mid-Santa Cruz County Stakeholder Advisory Committee, leading the successful application to DWR to modify basin boundaries to consolidate portions of four basins into a single basin, assisting the Agency with GSA notification to the state and representing the Agency in Central Coast advisory group meetings with DWR. He has also supported the basin boundary modification and alternate submittal for the Pajaro Valley Subbasin.

He is leading a team to evaluate and revise the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s groundwater zones of benefit that provide the basis for its groundwater charges that fund groundwater management projects. To date, the groundbreaking study evaluates areas that


benefit from the District’s in-lieu and managed recharge activities and Cameron has presented study plans at stakeholder meetings.


Cameron is an accomplished

groundwater modeler helping develop

and calibrate groundwater models of

the Santa Cruz Mid-County, Livermore

Valley, Seaside, Olympic Valley, and

Carpinteria Basins.

Colin Kikuchi, PhD

Colin Kikuchi is a lead modeler at M&A. He has

a doctoral degree in Hydrology and Water

Resources, with a minor in Agricultural and

Resource Economics from the University of

Arizona. His research and project work at M&A

have focused on advance methods in

groundwater modeling, including efficient

methods for groundwater model calibration and

uncertainty analysis. He has conducted project

work and research related to agricultural water

management using the MODFLOW-OWHM,

IWFM Demand Calculator, and C2VSim models.

Colin is currently working with the staff at

HydroMetrics WRI on a groundwater modeling

study in the Santa Margarita Basin in Santa Cruz

County.

J. Michael Harty, JD

Mr. Harty has over 20 years of direct experience

involving conflict management and resolution,

facilitated decision making, organizational

dynamics, strategic planning, public outreach

and engagement, and policy assessment. He was

a practicing attorney for eight years before

focusing full time on conflict resolution.

Policy Expertise

Mike has worked with numerous local, state, and

federal agencies, both internally and in multi-

agency contexts, as well as diverse private sector

and not-for-profit stakeholders. His policy

understanding has been an asset in assisting

agency managers and staff with internal

planning and organizational decision making,

and in designing and conducting successful

external policy-focused stakeholder processes.

SGMA Experience

Mike has experience with regulatory policy as it

relates to SGMA and environmental compliance.

He was directly involved in development of

policy recommendations that informed SGMA

and led K&W teams in multiple sub-basins to

support initial SGMA implementation. As a

Strategic Advisor, Mike will work with the team

to develop effective outreach strategies and

process design. In addition to his extensive

facilitation skills, he is an expert on conflict

resolution and mediation.

Staffan Schorr

Staffan Schorr is a Principal Hydrogeologist and

GIS specialist with a background in water

resource data management and analysis. He has

developed systems for data management,

analysis, visualization, and dissemination for a

variety of M&A’s projects. He also has extensive

experience using GIS methods to develop

numerical model inputs, display model results,

geospatial databases for conceptual

hydrogeologic models. He also manages M&A’s

3D modeling services, and specializes in the use

of Leapfrog software to develop volumetric

geologic and geochemical interpolation models.

Prior to joining M&A, Staffan worked for 8 years

in watershed planning at a regional agency that

facilitates coordination among local jurisdictions.


Georgina King, P.G., C.Hg.

Georgina King is a Professional Geologist and

Certified Hydrogeologist, and Principal

Hydrogeologist at HydroMetrics WRI. She has

23 years of experience in groundwater resource

management and development. She has worked

in both Northern and Southern California on

numerous hydrogeologic studies, including

water budgets, groundwater basin management,

monitoring plans, and groundwater modeling.

GIS/Data Management

Ms. King is an expert in GIS and database

development. For example, she directed GIS

efforts to support basin boundary modification

requests for the Santa Margarita, Santa Cruz

Mid-County, and Pajaro Valley Basins as well as

the Santa Clara Valley Water District zone of

benefit study. She has developed database

applications for water districts to store and

analyze hydrogeologic data.

SGMA Experience

In addition to providing technical

support for basin modification

requests, she helped prepare the

alternative GSP submittals for the

Pajaro Valley Subbasin, and has

experience as project manager for early

GSP development of four groundwater

basins in Ventura County.

Ventura County Experience

Georgina was HydroMetrics WRI’s

project manager and lead

hydrogeologist for developing a water

supply and demand estimates for

Ventura County. She also was technical

lead on a team developing salt and

nutrient management plans for the

Lower Santa Clara River and City of

Oxnard.

Laura Brown

Laura Brown joined HydroMetrics WRI

following a 33-year career in local government

administration. Most notably, she served as

General Manager of a highly exemplary and

innovative urban water purveyor and

groundwater management agency for 17 years.

In that role, Laura guided the process for

engaging other agencies, stakeholders, and the

community in groundwater management

planning to address a critically overdrafted

coastal basin.

Laura excels at complex problem solving and

strategic planning, teamwork, public outreach

and community engagement, fostering inter-

agency cooperation, regulatory compliance,

sound fiscal management and professional

integrity and ethics. Her significant

contributions to regional water resource

management were recognized by being named

Woman of the Year by both the Santa Cruz (2013)

and Aptos (2007) Chambers of Commerce. Her

agency’s approach to groundwater management

was also recognized by numerous groups’

publications including:

The Association of California Water

Agencies’ Sustainability from the Ground Up:

A Framework for Groundwater Management in

California

Stanford University’s Woods Institute’s

Uncommon Innovation: Developments in

Groundwater Management Planning in

California

Laura has an agricultural background and is very

engaged with current California Central Coast

agricultural issues through familial relationships.


Project Approach Our approach to developing the Cuyama Basin GSP is based on a first-hand understanding of

DWR’s expectations and our experience assisting other GSAs initiate their GSPs. The RFP

requested identification of key priorities and potential risk factors and mitigation measures.

From our perspective, the critical key priority for developing the GSP will be to successfully

implement our proposed stakeholder engagement strategy as a foundation for building

shared vision, transparency and mutual interests in groundwater sustainability. Doing so

will reduce the cost and time required to prepare the GSP, avoid risks associated with poor

communication and misinformation, and create a path forward for agreement on

sustainability metrics and plans in time to meet the January 2020 submittal deadline. We will

work closely with the CBGSA members and Board, GSA Advisory Committee, and Executive

Director (collectively referred to as the CBGSA in our proposal) to develop a positive and

productive working relationship that will facilitate development of a broadly accepted GSP.

To develop a GSP that has broad support among basin stakeholders and will be approved by

DWR, it will be critical to develop a shared vision for sustainable groundwater management in

the basin. This shared vision will be required to develop the sustainability goal(s) and SMC,

develop confidence in the groundwater model for the GSP, and implement and adaptively

manage the actions and projects that will be required to achieve sustainability.

In line with the RFP, our approach is designed to develop a GSP that meets all requirements

and procedures under DWR’s regulations, including stakeholder facilitation, notice and

communication requirements of Section 354.10 of the GSP Regulations. As requested in the

RFP, our approach is outlined as follows:

1. Stakeholder Engagement Strategy

2. Data Management

3. Development of a Basin Model and Water Budget

4. Establishment of Basin Sustainability Criteria

5. Development of Projects and Actions to Achieve Sustainability Goals

6. GSP Document Preparation

7. GSP Implementation

8. Meetings (added to provide cost transparency)

Key deliverables to the CBGSA are identified in the task descriptions.


1. Stakeholder Engagement

Strategy

Our strategy for successful stakeholder

engagement is based on the following

principles:

Shared understanding. Build broadly

shared understanding throughout the

GSP development process that

encompasses: the GSA members, GSA

Board, the Advisory Committee,

Executive Director, technical or ad hoc

committees, key stakeholder

representatives, and the interested

public

Reliable and accessible information.

Build confidence in key information

that will inform the GSP’s key

elements and the CBGSA decisions

through appropriate transparency

and accessibility

Clear expectations and meaningful

opportunities. Ensure that

engagement activities are meaningful

and that stakeholders and the public

have accurate expectations about

opportunities to impact decision

making including input on GSP drafts

Project integration. Ensure that

SGMA engagement requirements are

identified as clear objectives and that

stakeholder engagement is integrated

into project work plans, schedules,

and quality assurance and quality

control (QA/QC).

These principles reflect our team’s extensive

familiarity with SGMA: its purposes,

statutory and regulatory requirements,

1 DWR recently released draft guidance on

stakeholder engagement under SGMA for

comment. This guidance, when finalized, will be

an important reference point for the Cuyama

experiences with GSA formation and other

implementation actions, and insight into the

concerns and interests of diverse

stakeholders who use groundwater or are

otherwise impacted by SGMA. They also

reflect decades of experience designing and

successfully implementing stakeholder

engagement strategies across a wide range of

water resource issues within California and

around the western United States.

SGMA is notable for its identification of

certain requirements linked to stakeholder

engagement. One example is the requirement

in WC Section 10723.2 that a GSA consider

the interests of all beneficial uses and users of

groundwater, as well as those responsible for

implementing GSPs. Our engagement

strategy will incorporate and address these

requirements, and the GSP will include all

necessary engagement information.1 More

importantly, our strategy will provide

opportunities for all participants to make

contributions to a comprehensive GSP for the

Basin.

Stakeholder engagement will be a critical

aspect of GSP development and we

recommend that the CBGSA commit the

appropriate resources accordingly. While

our recommended strategy represents is

comprehensive, at the beginning of the

process we will meet with the CBGSA and

other stakeholders to understand the goals

and needs for stakeholder engagement.

Based on these discussions, we will tailor our

approach to best meet those goals and needs.

Throughout GSP development, we will

optimize our stakeholder engagement

approach in collaboration with the CBGSA.

Basin GSP engagement approach.

http://www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/pdfs/

GD_C&E_Final_2017-06-29.pdf

http://www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/pdfs/GD_C&E_Final_2017-06-29.pdf

http://www.water.ca.gov/groundwater/sgm/pdfs/GD_C&E_Final_2017-06-29.pdf


STAKEHOLDERS

Engagement begins with identifying who

should be engaged by asking: Whose interests

will be significantly affected by development and

implementation of a GSP for the Basin? Certain

stakeholders are obvious, beginning with the

six GSA members and Advisory Committee.

Each GSA member has its own interests and

priorities, and one important early

engagement task will be to learn as much as

possible about those interests. Looking

around the Basin, our second question is: To

what extent are significant interests or needs

related to developing and implementing a GSP

not fully represented by GSA members and

Advisory Committee, and what are options for

engaging those interests? One of our project

tasks described below is an Assessment for

the purpose of answering these questions.

Our intention is not to suggest that the GSA

and its members, particularly counties, don’t

represent all key stakeholder interests and

perspectives, but rather to ensure that we test

assumptions through an independent

evaluation. Our assessment would focus on

applicable following stakeholder categories,

including for example:

Independent groundwater pumpers in

agriculture at different scales

Independent groundwater pumpers in

other sectors including oil and gas

Residential water users

Native American tribes

Federal and state resource agencies

The online GSA formation filing with DWR

identifies a list of over 100 Interested Parties

in Section E. We will utilize this document as

a starting point for individuals and

organizations that should be considered as

stakeholders for our engagement strategy.

KEY TASKS

Our proposed engagement strategy includes

these basic tasks; others may be added based

on the findings and recommendations from

our assessment in Task 1b.

Task 1a: Workshop to Develop Shared

Project Understanding

Consistent with the principle of building

understanding, Task 1a is intended to

publicly initiate the GSP development

process. The “kickoff” workshop would

likely be structured primarily around the

GSA Board and the Advisory Committee,

and any technical staff assigned to the GSP

effort. The workshop also would be open to

the public and provide an opportunity for

input from the public. Our focus would be on

shared understanding of SGMA and the GSP

development process; we would emphasize

clear and realistic expectations about roles

and responsibilities, opportunities to

participate in the Task 1b assessment and

GSP development, and availability of key

technical information. Other potential

workshop topics include:

Understanding of Roles for GSP: It

will be essential to confirm the

decision making and representation

framework established by the GSA for

GSP development and adoption. This

topic includes the functioning of the

GSA, its funding and other resources,

its management, and the role and

authority of the Advisory Committee.

It also includes any plans for

submitting a Basin Boundary

modification to DWR in 2018.

Understanding of GSP

Requirements: This will ensure

stakeholders understand what GSP

regulations require and what does not

have to be resolved for the GSP.

Project Manager Derrik Williams,

who helped draft the forthcoming

Best Management Practice (BMP) on

SMC, will present on the importance


and requirements of SMC (see Task 4)

and how groundwater models can be

used for the GSP.

GSP Approach: This topic includes

developing a shared vision for GSP

success; creating GSP process goals

and metrics for progress and decision

making; anticipating challenges and

opportunities; and identifying key

deliverables and milestones including

Advisory Committee charter2

GSP Engagement Strategy: Creating

a strategy to identify and engage

Stakeholder participants and their

interests and anticipated concerns

through a stakeholder assessment

Task 1b: Survey Assessment of Key

Stakeholders

We will design and conduct a focused,

efficient assessment step in order to ensure

that we have a reliable understanding of

stakeholder needs, priorities, interests, and

concerns related to:

Participation in the GSP process

Quality of, access to and uses of

information and technical tools

including models

Decision making for the GSP – how

will the Advisory Committee operate?

Vision for GSP success

Concerns or interests related to GSP

implementation including future GSA

decisions about: Who pays? For what?

How much? And why?

Role(s) of the GSP team including

objectivity and lack of bias

The tools for this assessment tentatively

include an online survey and a limited

number of individual and group discussions.

2 If the Advisory Committee has not yet been

chartered, we recommend including this as a task

for the engagement effort.

We will prepare a summary of key findings

and recommendations that will inform other

tasks.

Task 1c: Prepare Communications,

Outreach and Engagement Plan

Based on the information gained from Task

1a (Workshop) and Task 1b (Survey), we will

prepare a draft Communications, Outreach

and Engagement Plan (COEP). The plan’s

content will depend on what we learn in the

workshop and assessment to a significant

extent. Our experience and knowledge of

SGMA suggest the following will be

included:

Specific engagement goals

Key stakeholders’ interests related to GSP

components including Sustainability

Goal, Minimum Thresholds, Measurable

Criteria

Specific engagement activities such as

facilitation of stakeholder interactions

with technical team

GSA’s decision making process for the

GSP

Inter-basin engagement needs and

opportunities

Opportunities for participation and how

public input will be considered

Approach to outreach and education for

the interested public including how the

public will be kept informed

Recommended methods of

communication

Website and other tools for access

The COEP will identify opportunities for

meaningful engagement to improve

outcomes, optimize resources, broaden

support, and reduce conflict. It will consider

both intra-basin and inter-basin dimensions


of engagement. Equally important, the COEP

will explicitly focus on meeting the minimum

requirements identified in SGMA and its

regulations. For example, the GSP must have

a section that explains the GSA’s decision

making process, identifies opportunities for

public engagement, and describes how the

GSA encourages active involvement from

diverse elements of the Basin’s population.

Task 1d: Plan, Coordinate, and Facilitate

Stakeholder Engagement in GSP

Development and Public Outreach

As elements of the plan are developed, a

central engagement task will be facilitating

the interaction of the GSA’s designated

representatives (Advisory Committee), other

stakeholders, and the interested public.

Based on the RFP these interactions will

occur primarily in the context of the

Advisory Committee; they also may involve

one or more ad hoc technical committees; and

they may also involve the Board and GSA

members. These assumptions will be

addressed as part of the initial workshop

(Task 1a). Our engagement strategy

anticipates developing an agreed framework

for GSP development with the Advisory

Committee; this framework will be added to

the COEP (Task 1c). The framework will

include customized engagement approaches

for each key element of the GSP, including

Sustainability Criteria and Measurable

Objectives. These approaches will vary

depending on where it is critical to reach

agreements within the Advisory Committee,

and where it is sufficient to ensure that all

key viewpoints and concerns are heard

without seeking agreement.

Task 1e: Conduct QA/QC of the

Communication and Engagement Plan

We will integrate engagement objectives and

activities into our overall QA/QC for this

project. We will focus on required content for

the GSP as well as engagement deliverables,

milestones, criteria and schedule. We will

also review and update our COEP as

appropriate based on project dynamics and

our learning about the most effective

engagement tools and activities for the

Cuyama Basin. Our metrics may consider:

Are stakeholders and the interested

public informed about the GSP

development process and their own

roles?

Is the timeline for GSP development

understood?

Has the GSA received positive or

negative public comment and media

coverage?

Do diverse stakeholders feel

engagement opportunities are

meaningful?

Deliverables

Key deliverables for Task 1 include:

presentations from the workshop, the COEP

and required GSP sections describing

stakeholder engagement.

2. Data Management

SGMA requires that GSAs develop an

electronic database to store hydrogeologic

data (e.g., groundwater levels, pumping data,

water quality data, etc.) for the basin and to

aid in reporting data to the state-wide DWR

database. Clear and transparent

communication among stakeholders can only

happen if data and information are managed

effectively and are easily accessible. An

effective data management system will also

be critical for groundwater modeling and

water budget development, future data

acquisition under the monitoring program,

and developing and evaluating attainment of

minimum thresholds and measurable

objectives.


Task 2a. Prepare Data Management Plan

There are many forms and software available

for data management. Early in the

stakeholder engagement process, we will

work with stakeholders to develop goals and

a conceptual plan for data management and

information dissemination. Based on that

process, we will prepare a brief written data

management plan that will outline the

approach to data management. During this

task, we will confer with the USGS to assess

the availability of databases that they may

have developed for the basin groundwater

model. In addition, we will coordinate with

the DWR and evaluate existing tools to

streamline the data management system

development.

Task 2b. Develop Data Management System

The data management system will be built in

phases, starting with necessary elements and

adding additional elements as they are

needed – this approach will control costs and

result in a more effective data management

system. We will evaluate the nature and

extent of data available in the basin to

determine the most appropriate approach for

managing data in an electronic

database. Early system development will

focus on building a database to organize,

analyze, and report the basic hydrogeology

that will be needed to develop and

implement the GSP. As the GSP progresses,

the data management system may be

extended in collaboration with the CBGSA to

support information dissemination to

stakeholders via the GSA’s website.

Important considerations in developing the

database include:

Historic Data – Incorporating historic

data into a database will likely be

needed. In many cases, this task can

be time consuming and costly,

depending on the amount of historic

data that exist. We will assess the

amount of historic data and develop a

plan for incorporating data that are

considered most useful for GSP

development, prioritizing data related

to undesirable results that define

sustainability. The cost to populate

the database with historic data only

can be developed after the form and

amount of data are determined and

the data management objectives of the

GSA are better understood.

Software and Compatibility – The

database should be developed in a

commercially available database

software to ensure broad

compatibility of the database with

other software.

Database Use – To facilitate GSP

development and implementation, a

robust database should be developed

that can serve the current and future

needs of the CGBSA. We will develop

a database that is easily updated, that

can interface with mapping software

like geographical information systems

(i.e., a geodatabase), and that can be

easily linked to the CBGSA’s website.

During database management system

develop, we will keep the CBGSA and other

stakeholders informed on data management,

and we will ensure that the data management

system is developed in a timely manner as

well as effective to support GSP

development.

Task 2c. Deliver and Deploy Data

Management System

Once the data management system is

developed and tested, we will work with the

CBGSA to deliver and deploy the system.

We will train CBGSA staff on use of the

database. If needed, we can prepare a user’s

manual for the database. We will also


continue to maintain the database and adapt

it to improve use for GSP development and

implementation.

Deliverables

Key deliverables for Task 2 include: data

management plan and a functional data

management system.

3. Development of a Basin

Model and Water Budget

Models of the hydrogeologic conditions in

the basin are the primary basis for

developing water budgets. Two types of

basin models will be utilized. First, a

conceptual model of hydrogeologic

conditions in the basin must be developed.

The conceptual model is a narrative and

graphical summary of the state of

groundwater conditions in the basin. The

conceptual model forms the basis for

mathematical models, which are typically

numerical computer models of the basin

aquifer systems. A critical first step in

developing the basin conceptual model is to

assess basin conditions.

DWR outlined basic requirements for

modeling in the GSP regulations (§352.4f)

and prepared a BMP document for modeling.

However, DWR does not prescribe the type

of modeling or specify which modeling

software should be used for GSP

development if it meets certain minimum

standards. GSAs are encouraged to decide

on the scope of modeling they believe is

needed for their basin, and if modeling is

conducted, select any model that meets the

minimum requirements outlined in the

regulations.

Hydrologic conditions and water resource

management challenges in the Cuyama Basin

are complex. In order to adequately address

these complexities in the GSP, groundwater

modeling will be required. The U.S.

Geological Survey (USGS) has developed a

hydrologic computer model of the Cuyama

Basin. We understand that some GSA

members question aspects of the USGS

model. Our approach to analyzing basin

conditions and groundwater modeling will

start with an evaluation of the USGS model

to identify key uncertainties. There is likely

insufficient time to revise the model to fully

address all model uncertainties before the

GSP is due to DWR, but the model can still be

used for the GSP with acknowledgement of

these uncertainties.

Modeling will be important for establishing

water budgets for the groundwater basin,

developing SMC and interim milestones,

estimating sustainable yield, developing the

hydrologic monitoring program, evaluating

management actions and projects to achieve

sustainability, and supporting an adaptive

management strategy for ensuring progress

towards sustainability. The modeling

program we propose will be conducted in

accordance with the GSP regulations and

BMPs established by DWR. It is important to

recognize that, while modeling will be

important in the sustainability planning

process, it will not be the basis for proving

that sustainable groundwater conditions

have been achieved in the basin. Actual

data – for example, groundwater elevations

or groundwater quality – obtained from the

hydrologic monitoring program will provide

the basis for demonstrating progress towards

sustainable groundwater management.

Our modeling and water budget task

includes the following subtasks.

Task 3a. Evaluate Basin Conditions

Critical decisions related to developing an

effective GSP must be based on a reasonable

understanding of the basin’s hydrogeology.

Therefore, an important early step in the GSP


process is assessing the state

of the basin and agreeing on

data gaps. In our discussions

with DWR, it is clear that a

perfect understanding of the

basin hydrogeology is not

necessary. We will assess

what is understood about the

basin’s hydrogeology and

water balance and work with

GSA members and

stakeholders to determine hydrogeologic and

water budget data gaps.

If data are available to reduce uncertainties,

we will analyze these data during GSP

development. However, it is more likely that

new data will be developed during GSP

implementation to address these

uncertainties. We believe the most efficient

path forward is to identify uncertainties and

ambiguities, and specifically acknowledge

them in the GSP. DWR fully expects most

plans to contain uncertainties which can be

addressed during GSP implementation.

Task 3b. Evaluate USGS Model of Cuyama

Basin

The USGS has developed an integrated

hydrologic model for the Cuyama Basin3.

The model is comprehensive and likely

simulates all of the necessary hydrologic

processes for GSP development; this will be

confirmed in Task 3a. In order to develop the

GSP in a timely and cost effective manner, we

recommend that the USGS model be used to

develop the GSP, while acknowledging

uncertainties for use in the model.

The USGS model was developed using the

MODFLOW-OWHM code. This model code

simulates the comprehensive water budget

3 The model is summarized in the 2015 report entitled

Hydrologic Models and Analysis of Water Availability in

Cuyama Valley, California.

associated with a groundwater dependent

agricultural basin. The model code is

relatively new, complex, and lacks a

commercially available graphical user

interface – hence, it is not widely used by

modelers other than the USGS. However,

our lead modeler Colin Kikuchi used this

model code during his doctoral research and

then subsequently when he worked for the

USGS. His experience with MODFLOW-

OWHM is unique and will be a tangible

benefit to the CBGSA during GSP

development. In addition, our project

manager Derrik Williams used the USGS

model of the Pajaro Valley Basin based on

this code to evaluate management options for

Pajaro Valley’s Basin Management Plan.

Before using the model, we will review

model input and output data to assess the

representativeness of the model and to

identify aspects of the model that could lead

to uncertainties in model predictions.

Understanding model uncertainty is critical

to developing the GSP. Through our team’s

close work with DWR during development of

the GSP regulations, the groundwater model

BMP, and the pending BMP for SMC, we

understand that DWR expects there to be

uncertainty in model predictions and expects


that GSAs will account for this uncertainty

when developing their GSP. For that reason,

we will focus on model representativeness

and uncertainties instead of striving to

develop the perfect model for the basin. This

modeling approach will lead to timely and

less costly integration of modeling into the

GSP process, and lead to more effective

development of SMC and more effective

analysis of management actions and projects

that are needed to achieve sustainability. In

the future during GSP implementation,

additional evaluation of the model would be

conducted to determine whether

modifications are needed to improve model

utility for adaptive management and

optimization of sustainability projects and

management actions.

Task 3c: Develop Water Budgets

The model will be used to develop historic,

current, and future water budgets. The water

budgets will provide a basis for estimating

sustainable yield for the basin. The water

budgets are also critical for developing SMC.

It is important to recognize that the model

will be used in the context of developing

water budgets and SMC and estimating

sustainable yield based on SMC, but results

from the model will not be the basis for

demonstrating that sustainable conditions

have been achieved. Therefore, it is important

to scale the model to inform water budgets

not to define sustainability.

Task 3d: Support Development of

Sustainable Management Criteria

SMC are the most important aspect of the

GSP. The model will be used to support

development of the SMC. In particular, the

model will be useful for conceptually

evaluating the cause of undesirable results,

establishing minimum thresholds and

measurable objectives, and developing and

refining the monitoring program for the

basin. The model can potentially be used to

establish groundwater level proxies for

sustainability criteria such as subsidence and

surface water depletion.

Task 3e: Simulate Management Actions and

Projects

After the model has been used to develop the

water budget and support development of

SMC, the model will be used to evaluate

various management actions and projects

that may be feasible components of

sustainability. In this case, the model will be

used to simulate different actions and

projects. The model provides the best means

to simulate the effect of actions and projects

on complex hydrologic processes, such as

interconnected surface and groundwater

systems, and to account for potential impacts

from climate change. Model results will be

compared to identify the best combination of

management actions and projects that avoid

undesirable results, attain measurable

objectives, help set interim milestones based

on simulated progress toward sustainability

in the basin, and estimate sustainable yield

for inclusion in the water budget section of

the GSP.

Deliverables

Key deliverables for Task 3 include: technical

memoranda on basin conditions, model

review, water budgets, and summary of use

of the model during GSP development for

use as sections in GSP.


4. Establishment of Basin Sustainability Criteria

In its GSP for the Basin, the GSA will need to define sustainability for the Basin with Sustainable

SMC. The basis for SMC and therefore basin sustainability is the definition of undesirable

results for the six sustainability indicators shown in the figure below.

A basin is considered

sustainable if all undesirable

results are avoided. Note that

DWR’s view of sustainability

under SGMA is based on the

aquifer conditions, which is very different from how sustainability is viewed under a legal

adjudication, which is based on amount pumped.

As the SMC define sustainability, DWR

considers this to be the most important part

of the GSP. While DWR anticipates that GSPs

will include uncertainty in the basin

description and water budget, DWR expects

all GSPs to have clearly stated and factually

supported sustainability criteria.

Sustainability criteria define how a GSA will

measure and demonstrate sustainability, and

DWR will not accept plans that have vague

criteria. Therefore, we believe a significant

part of the GSP development effort will be

spent defining, clarifying, and adjusting

sustainability criteria. Finalizing these criteria

will be an iterative process that requires

stakeholder input, technical analyses, and

broad agreement on the definition of

undesirable results. This phase of the process

has significant potential for disagreements

that may require conflict resolution expertise.

Therefore, our approach will be to begin

discussion of the SMC at a very early point in

the project and continue with facilitated

SGMA Adjudication

Views on Sustainability


discussions on the SMC throughout the

project. The discussion will start with a

workshop that will help stakeholders

understand their specific roles in making

decisions, and what is required of them

during the GSP development process. By the

start of the project, DWR is scheduled to

release a draft BMP for developing the SMC.

Our principal-in-charge and project

manager, Derrik Williams, assisted in

drafting this BMP for DWR, and therefore

has unparalleled knowledge of the

requirements for developing the SMC. He is

therefore uniquely qualified and prepared

to present on the SMC at this early

workshop. Facilitated discussions on SMC

with the GSP Advisory Committee will

continue to take place as other tasks for the

GSP are undertaken, such as establishing

basin conditions, developing data

management systems, assessing and

recommending improvements to the

monitoring network, identifying projects and

programs to achieve sustainability,

groundwater modeling to evaluate

contributions of identified projects and

programs to sustainability, and planning

implementation. All of this work must be

performed within the context of developing

the SMC. By facilitating discussion of the

SMC throughout the project, we will help the

basin’s beneficial users quantify the desired

state of the groundwater basin with the SMC.

The SMC include identification of

undesirable results, minimum thresholds at

every representative monitoring point (RMP),

measurable objectives at every RMP, and

describing how combinations of minimum

threshold exceedances in the basin will be

considered to be undesirable results. The

different steps for developing the SMC and

how they integrate and sequence with other

GSP tasks (italicized) are described below.

These steps are part of the broader GSP

development process, and we have grouped

them into the following four subtasks for cost

estimation purposes (provided under

separate sealed cover).

Task 4a – Monitoring Network

Evaluation (Step 3)

Task 4b – Sustainable Management

Criteria (Steps 2, 4, 5, 8, and 9)

Task 4c – Management Areas (Steps 6

and 7)

Task 4d – Interim Milestones (Step 10)

An important early milestone will be the

Workshop to Develop Shared Project

Understanding (Task 1a), where Derrik

Williams will present on the SMC to initiate

development of a shared understanding of

their importance and the process required to

develop them.

Steps to Developing SMC

1. Identify Applicable Sustainability

Indicators, Identify Undesirable

Results, and Draft Sustainability

Goal. As Basin Conditions (Task 3a)

are documented and communicated

with the GSA and the GSP Advisory

Committee, we will help identify the

applicable sustainability indicators

and develop draft descriptions of

what is significant and unreasonable

for the sustainability indicators and

therefore considered undesirable

results. Based on this process, we will

draft the descriptive sustainability

goal.

2. Assess and Improve Monitoring

Network Based on Needs for

Evaluating Undesirable Results.

Groundwater sustainability is

demonstrated using data from the

basin’s monitoring network. The

network must be sufficient to assess

all six sustainability indicators, and


provide reasonable coverage

throughout the basin. Assessing the

existing monitoring network, and

improving or modifying it is an

imperative for avoiding undesirable

results. Attempting to demonstrate

sustainability with an incomplete or

poorly designed monitoring network

may result in the CBGSA having

difficulty proving sustainability in the

future. It will also be important to

Develop a Data Management System

(Task 2) with the SMC in mind as the

data should focus on the applicable

sustainability indicators.

3. Draft Concepts for Minimum

Thresholds. Minimum thresholds are

the numeric value for each applicable

sustainability indicator used to define

undesirable results. Based on GSP

Advisory Committee agreement on

undesirable results and data

availability, we will propose options

for what the bases of minimum

thresholds could be. This could

include proposing use of

groundwater levels as proxies for

minimum thresholds for multiple

sustainability indicators. Discussion

with the GSP Advisory Committee on

the conceptual options will be

facilitated to arrive at agreement on

the bases for minimum thresholds.

4. Draft Concepts for Measurable

Objectives. Measurable objectives

are specific, quantifiable goals for the

maintenance or improvement of

specified groundwater conditions.

They represent better basin conditions

than minimum thresholds and

represent a long-term sustainability

goal that provides operational

flexibility and a buffer, for example

during dry periods, which reduce risk

of undesirable results. Based on the

agreed concepts for minimum

thresholds, we will facilitate

discussion by the GSP Advisory

Committee of the operational

flexibility that is appropriate for the

basin guided by historic water budget

information from Basin Conditions

(Task 3a).

5. Evaluate Establishment of

Management Areas. The GSP

regulations allow for definition of

multiple management areas with

different minimum thresholds and

measurable objectives than the rest of

the basin. It may be appropriate to

define multiple management areas in

the Basin since there are three distinct

subareas within the Basin (Main Zone,

Sierra Madre Foothills, and

Ventucopa Uplands). However, the

definition of undesirable results needs

to be consistent with the rest of the

basin so this discussion takes place

after agreement on definition and

concepts for minimum thresholds and

measurable objectives. We will advise

the GSP Advisory Committee on the

appropriateness for defining

management areas based on the

hydrogeologic conceptual model in

Basin Conditions (Task 3a) and the

level of monitoring described in

Assess and Improve Monitoring Network.

6. Select Representative Monitoring

Points (e.g., red dots on

graphic). Minimum

thresholds and

measurable

objectives are

only applied at

representative

monitoring

points. Based on


the work to Assess and Improve

Monitoring Network (Task 4a), we will

propose representative monitoring

points for each applicable

sustainability indicator to the GSP

Advisory Committee for discussion

and revision.

7. Establish Minimum Thresholds and

Measurable Objectives at Each

Representative Monitoring Point.

Based on an understanding of the

above steps, we will propose

minimum thresholds and measurable

objectives at all representative

monitoring points for consideration

by the GSP Advisory Committee. The

Water Budget (Task 3c) section will

include an estimate of sustainable

yield which will be estimated by

Groundwater Modeling for pumping

totals that achieve measurable

objectives

throughout the

basin. It should

be noted that, per

SGMA, total

pumping that

meets this

sustainable yield

estimate does not

define

sustainability.

8. Define Combinations of Minimum

Thresholds that Represent

Undesirable Results. In the SMCs,

the GSA can establish combinations of

minimum threshold exceedances that

represent undesirable results. We will

facilitate a discussion by the GSP

Advisory Committee of how the GSA

wants to apply minimum thresholds

throughout the Basin that will inform

development of these combinations.

9. Establish Interim Milestones for

Achieving Sustainability. As part of

Development of Projects and Actions to

Achieve Sustainability Goals (Task 5),

we will use the Basin Model (Task 3) to

assess whether projects and actions

result in sustainability by meeting

measurable objectives by 2040 and

prevent undesirable results for the

rest of the 50-year future climate

evaluation period required by DWR.

The modeled results for the first 20

years can guide the establishment of

interim milestones for progress that is

expected to achieve sustainability.

Deliverables

Key deliverables for Task 4 include: Five

technical memoranda describing steps

developing sustainability management

criteria for use as draft sections for the GSP.

5. Development of Projects

and Actions to Achieve

Sustainability Goals

Projects and management actions are a

required element of the GSP and will be

selected to meet the sustainability goal for the

basin. The GSP must describe the projects

and management actions that CBGSA has

determined will achieve the sustainability

goal for the basin. This discussion must

identify the specific linkages with the SMC

(i.e. measurable objectives, interim

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Gro

un

dw

ate

r Le

vel

Historical Future

Minimum Threshold

Measurable Objective

IM#1 IM#3IM#2

Sustainable


milestones, and minimum thresholds) and

any implementation triggers. This section of

the GSP must also describe the process by

which CBGSA will provide notice to the

public and other agencies that the

implementation of projects or management

actions is being considered or has been

implemented. Because the basin has been

designated as critically overdrafted by DWR,

the GSP must specifically describe projects or

management actions that may be

implemented to address the overdraft

condition.

The HydroMetrics WRI team recognizes that

there are three distinct subareas within the

basin (Main Zone, Sierra Madre Foothills,

and Ventucopa Uplands), which have

different groundwater conditions and

potentially different sustainability criteria.

Moreover, there are structural imbalances

between these areas, with the majority of the

recharge occurring in the Ventucopa and

Sierra Madre Foothills and the majority of the

pumping and groundwater storage depletion

occurring in the Main Zone. Hence, these

areas may require different projects and

management actions achieve the

sustainability goal for the basin. While the

GSP may proceed with different management

areas for the three subareas, it may be

necessary to consider projects that facilitate

water transfers from areas that are more

easily recharged to areas that are not. Of

course, any project that transfers water must

ensure that the beneficial users located in the

area where the water is being transferred

from are not impacted or are made whole.

The principal issue in the basin that must be

addressed to achieve sustainability is

balancing groundwater supply and demand.

Balance will likely be achieved through a

combination of water supply augmentation

projects and demand management measures.

If appropriate, our approach will consider the

use of decision support modeling to better

evaluate the financial tradeoffs and benefits

of projects and actions. This approach is

more transparent and objective, and can help

quantify the financial implications of the

projects and actions that are being considered

for the basin.

Potential water supply augmentation projects

will likely need to focus on engineered

projects that increase recharge following

precipitation events and transfer water from

areas that are more easily recharged to areas

that are not. Some options that will be

considered include:

Regional storm water recharge projects in

the Ventucopa and Sierra Madre Foothills;

On-farm recharge projects (temporary

flooding of farmland adjacent to Cuyama

River or a tributary for recharge);

Storm water retention;

Dry wells in recharge areas; and

Injection wells in the Main Zone.

Demand management programs should be

considered to reduce groundwater demand

and ensure that the available resources are

being used as efficiently as possible. Demand

management options that will be considered

include, but are not limited to:

Irrigation efficiency improvement

programs;

Pay-to-fallow programs;

Longer crop rotations; and

Land-use change (e.g. solar

generation).

There are three ways to pursue the above-

listed demand management measures. One

method is via regulatory mandates. Another

method is via incentives provided by the

GSA (funded by an extraction fee). The last

option is via a water market. The idea behind

a water market is that it would create market-

driven financial incentives that drive


business decisions toward the most efficient

use of water without regulatory mandates or

other incentives. The HydroMetrics WRI

team will work with CBGSA and the

stakeholders to explore the demand

management measures and the preferred

approach for pursuing them.

In the end, the water supply augmentation

projects and demand management measures

may not be sufficient to balance groundwater

supply and demand. Thus, it is anticipated

that some amount of regulated demand

management (i.e. pumping reductions) will

be needed to achieve sustainability.

However, we would propose that any

pumping reductions be phased in carefully

over time commensurate with increased

certainty and confidence in the basin

sustainable yield achieved through

addressing data gaps and implementation of

other projects/measures described above.

These concepts are illustrated in the figure

below, which also shows one possible

approach for using projects and management

actions to achieve sustainable groundwater

pumping.

However, meeting the estimate for

sustainable yield does not ensure

sustainability, which is defined as avoiding

undesirable results. Therefore, the

sustainable yield estimate could be revised

during GSP implementation.

We understand that there is little existing

information for the basin concerning

potential water supply augmentation

projects. Thus, we envision that the GSP will

propose conceptual projects and recommend

that a water augmentation feasibility study

be completed as a first step of GSP

implementation. The feasibility study would

further assess and rank the projects. We will

develop the required information for the

GSP, commensurate with the level of

available information, including:

Permitting and regulatory process;

Time-table for initiation and

completion, and the accrual of

expected benefits;

Expected benefits and how they will

be evaluated;

How the project or demand

management action would be

accomplished;


Legal authority required;

Estimated costs for the projects and

management actions; and

Strategy to finance the projects and

management actions (Task 5b in

schedule and cost).

Deliverables

Key deliverables for Task 5 include a

technical memorandum on conceptual

management actions and projects, and a

technical memorandum on planned

management actions, projects, and finance

strategy for use as the draft GSP chapter.

6. Groundwater Sustainability

Plan Document Preparation

The GSP will be the fundamental document

for groundwater management in the Cuyama

Basin. Additionally, the GSP serves as proof

to DWR that the CBGSA has a hydrogeologic

understanding of the basin, a clear definition

of sustainability, and a defined approach for

achieving sustainability within 20 years.

In terms of content and compliance with the

GSP regulations, the GSP will follow

guidance from DWR in their Groundwater

Sustainability Plan Annotated Outline Guidance

Document for the Sustainable Management of

Groundwater. We have reviewed this outline,

and used it as the starting point for other

GSPs that we are working on. We believe

DWR’s outline could be structurally modified

for clarity, however all the basic sections

suggested by DWR will be included in our

GSP. Relying on DWR’s outline ensures that

the CBGSA will address all of DWR’s

requirements in the GSP.

While our goal is to ensure the GSP meets the

standards set forth in the GSP regulations

and BMPs, we also recognize that a

successful GSP requires much more than just

meeting these standards. SGMA envisions a

robust stakeholder engagement process

during the GSP development and for good

reason – a GSP that is adopted with

significant stakeholder opposition may not be

approved by DWR and would be challenging

to implement. Thus, we view the GSP as an

outcome of a successful planning process, not

just a deliverable. We believe this

wholeheartedly because our team’s success in

other basins has resulted from taking the

time to build shared vision amongst the

participating stakeholders throughout the

planning process. Thus, our approach will

be to deliver draft sections of the GSP

incrementally as they are completed so we

can obtain early input from the CBGSA and

build confidence in the process and,

ultimately, the GSP itself. Our outreach and

stakeholder involvement program will be

aligned with draft GSP section deliveries to

ensure a cohesive and collaborative process.

We believe this approach maximizes

transparency, provides early and frequent

opportunities for stakeholder input, and

helps mitigate the inevitable push back that

will occur immediately prior to adoption by

the CBGSA Board.

Deliverables

Key deliverables for Task 6 include draft and

final GSP.

7. GSP Implementation

The implementation chapter of the GSP

summarizes the plan to achieve

sustainability, describes how sustainability

will be periodically evaluated, and discusses

the use of adaptive management to meet

sustainability. Therefore, this chapter will

not only describe how the GSA will meet

ongoing requirements of the GSP regulations

and SGMA, such as annual reports and the

five year periodic evaluations, but describe

how actions and projects will meet interim

milestones and eventually measurable


objectives. This chapter represents the GSA’s

roadmap to sustainability based on the

actions and projects identified in the GSP.

In addition to cost, schedule, and planned

contents of annual reports and five year

periodic evaluations, the chapter will include

the cost and schedule of planned actions and

projects in relation to achieving interim

milestones set every five years until 2040.

The chapter will describe the additional

actions and projects or revisions to actions

and projects available if interim milestones

are not achieved. We will propose adaptive

management options for a facilitated

discussion with the GSP Advisory Committee

before describing them in the GSP.

Deliverables

Key deliverables for Task 7 include: the draft

implementation chapter of the GSP.

8. Meetings Our approach to the GSP development

process will be hands-on with frequent

interaction with the CBGSA, GSP Advisory

Committee, Executive Director, and other

stakeholders. A key element of the process

will be participation in meetings. In order to

inform stakeholders on the GSP process,

build consensus among the stakeholders, and

minimize delays, we will participate in all

GSP Advisory Committee meetings, attend

all CGBSA Board meetings, and take on an

appropriate role in other ad hoc meetings as

needed. It will be important for our project

manager, lead facilitator, and local project

lead to be involved in meetings throughout

the GSP development process. Other team

members may attend some meetings when

appropriate. We understand that the GSP

Advisory Committee is in the process of

forming and an Executive Director will be

hired. We also understand that advisory

committee and GSA Board meetings will be

held monthly. For cost estimating purposes,

we have assumed the following level of effort

for meetings.

Task 8a: GSP Advisory Committee

Meetings

We assume there will be 20 advisory

committee meetings during GSP

development. Our lead facilitator, Ellen

Cross, will attend all meetings, and our

senior facilitator, J. Michael Harty, will attend

4 meetings, where they will facilitate

stakeholder interactions and ensure that

meeting goals are met and the GSP process

stays on schedule. We assume our project

manager, Derrik Williams, will attend 8

meetings and our local project lead, Bryan

Bondy, will attend the other 12 meetings. For

meetings they do not attend, Derrik and

Bryan will attend by teleconference to stay

updated. Their attendance will be important

to inform stakeholders on technical issues

and progress.

Task 8b: CBGSA Board Meetings

We assume there will be 20 meetings during

GSP development. Bryan Bondy will attend

all CBGSA Board meetings to stay informed

about issues and report back to the technical

and facilitation team. We assume Ellen and

Derrik would each attend 4 meetings.

Task 8c: Other Meetings

We anticipate that other technical meetings

will be required to develop the GSP. For

planning purposes, we assume that Ellen,

and Bryan will attend 4 additional meetings.

Deliverables

The primary deliverable for Task 8 will be

meeting notes and presentations.


Project Schedule Figure 1 shows a detailed schedule for GSP development. Our team is motivated to deliver the GSP

before the January 31, 2020 deadline assuming we can start work during or before January 2018.

Proprietary Statement HydroMetrics WRI, on behalf of it and its subconsultants, attests that nothing contained in the

submittal is proprietary. HydroMetrics WRI further attests that it will, to the best of its ability, not

include proprietary information in any subsequent interview (if required).

Insurance All members of the HydroMetrics WRI team currently have the required insurance coverages. The

table below identifies the insurance carrier for each team member.

Firm HydroMetrics

WRI

Kearns & West Bondy

Groundwater, Inc.

Montgomery &

Associates

General

Liability

Travelers

Insurance

Twin City Fire

Insurance/The

Hartford

Farmers Insurance

Exchange

The Hartford

Automotive Travelers

Insurance

The Hartford Farmers Insurance

Exchange

The Hartford

Workers Comp. Travelers

Insurance

The Hartford N/A – Sole

proprietor

The Hartford

Errors &

Omissions

U.S. Specialty

Insurance

Federal

Insurance Co.

U.S. Specialty

Insurance

CNA

Estimated Costs Estimated costs are provided under separate cover.

ID Task Name

1 Notice to Proceed

2 1. Stakeholder Engagment Strategy

3 1a. Workshop to Develop Shared Project Understanding

4 1b. Survey Assessment of Key Stakeholders

5 1c. Prepare Communications, Outreach and Engagement Plan

6 1d. Plan, Coordinate, and Facilitate Stakeholder Engagement in GSP Development

and Public Outreach

7 1e. Conduct QA/QC of the Communication and Engagement Plan

8 2. Data Management

9 2a. Prepare Data Management Plan

10 2b. Develop Data Management System

11 2c. Deliver and Deploy Data Management System

12 3. Development of Basin Model and Water Budget

13 3a. Evaluate Basin Conditions

14 3b. Evaluate USGS Model of Cuyama Basin

15 3c. Develop Water Budgets

16 Historic

17 Future

18 3d. Support Development of Sustainable Management Criteria

19 3e. Simulate Management Actions and Projects

20 4. Establishment of Basin Sustainability Criteria

21 4a. Monitoring Network Evaluation

22 4b. Sustainable Management Criteria

23 4c. Management Areas

24 4d. Interim Milestones

25 5. Development of Projects and Actions to Achieve Sustainability Goals

26 5a. Identify and Evaluate Projects

27 5b. Develop Finance Strategy

28 6. GSP Document Preparation

29 Prepare Outline

30 Task Deliverables to be included in GSP

31 Basin Conditions / Monitoring Network

32 Historic Water Budgets

33 Future Water Budgets

34 Sustainable Management Criteria

35 Projects and Management Actions

36 7. GSP Implementation

37 Submit Complete Draft GSP to CBGSA

38 CBGSA/Advisory Committee Review

39 Prepare final GSP

40 Final CBGSA Board Approval of GSP

41 8. Meetings

42 8a. GSP Advisory Committee Meetings

68 8b. CBGSA Boad Meetings

94 8c. Other Meetings

Notice to Proceed

Final CBGSA Board Approval of GSP

Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 22017 2018 2019 2020

Figure 1. Detailed Project ScheduleCuyama Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan

Page 1 of 1

.

Appendix A: Resumes

Derrik Williams, P.G., C.Hg. Page 1 of 2

1814 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA 94612

EDUCATION M.S., Hydrology, University of Arizona, 1987

B.S., Geology, University of California at Davis, 1982

EXPERIENCE 28 years

REGISTRATION Professional Geologist, California, #6044

Certified Hydrogeologist, California, #35

EXPERTISE o 3D groundwater flow

and transport models o Groundwater recharge o Conjunctive water

management o Groundwater basin

management o Aquifer test analysis o Interagency

negotiation and coordination

o Independent technical review

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS o American Geophysical

Union o Association of

California Water Agencies

o National Groundwater Association

o Groundwater Resources Association of California

Experience Summary

Derrik Williams, a California Professional Geologist and Certified

Hydrogeologist, is President of HydroMetrics Water Resources Inc.

Derrik has more than 28 years of experience in applied geology and

hydrogeology and excels at assisting his clients with integrating

technical analyses and institutional challenges to manage their water

resources. His project experience includes managing, reviewing, and

assisting on water supply, groundwater recharge, wastewater

disposal, and hazardous waste remediation projects. Derrik is

accomplished in analytical hydrogeology, with extensive

interpretation and application of groundwater flow and transport

models. He is an expert in aquifer test design and analysis and is

experienced in all aspects of groundwater management.

As a member of the Groundwater Committee of the Association of

California Water Agencies (ACWA) since 2008, Derrik helped shape

the California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring

Program (CASGEM) and helped develop ACWA's Groundwater

Framework document. He additionally drafted ACWA’s Guidelines for

Groundwater Monitoring. Derrik is one of the few consultants

working closely with DWR to develop the state’s SGMA

implementation process. He reviewed and commented on the

SGMA legislation while it was being drafted, and currently sits on

ACWA’s SGMA Implementation Policy Committee as well as

ACWA’s SGMA Policy Advisory Workgroup.

Derrik has been invited to meet regularly with representatives from

DWR and SWRCB to shape the regulations implementing the SGMA

legislation. During 2015, he represented both ACWA and the mid-

coast groundwater users group in numerous meetings with DWR

and SWRCB. He was a contributor to the California Water

Foundation’s GSP regulations workshops, and he was invited to

participate in Stanford’s Water in the West meetings on data and

modeling in SGMA.

Representative Experience

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

Santa Margarita Groundwater Basin Boundary Modification,

Scotts Valley Water District. Derrik managed the one of the most

complex basin boundary modifications as in SGMA’s

implementation. The basin boundary modification included both

technical and jurisdictional modifications to promote sustainable

groundwater management. Derrik reviewed and interpreted

Derrik Williams, P.G., C.Hg. Page 2 of 2


relevant SGMA regulations for the client and hosted meetings with DWR and SWRCB to review

and obtain agreement to the modification approach. He developed the technical justification to

establish a new groundwater basin that encompasses all or parts of two existing groundwater

basins, along with areas previously not considered groundwater basins. Derrik assisted the

client with required stakeholder outreach and water agency notification, and developed

responses to concerns raised by neighboring water agencies. As part of his management, Derrik

presented the modification approach and technical work at numerous Boards of Directors

meetings in Santa Cruz County.

Groundwater Sustainability Agency Assessment, Butte County Department of Water and

Resource Conservation. Derrik is providing technical assistance regarding GSA development

to Butte County as a subconsultant to Kearns and West Inc. The project is assisting Butte

County assess the potential interest and concerns of various agencies and groups regarding

GSA formation under SGMA. Derrik was part of the team that helped develop the outreach

materials to ensure that relevant information was collected to guide Butte County’s GSA

development.

Groundwater Supply/Groundwater Management

Seaside Basin Groundwater Management, Seaside Basin Watermaster. Derrik helped develop

both a Basin Management Action Plan and Seawater Intrusion Response Plan (SIRP) for the

Watermaster in Monterey County. The Basin Management Action Plan identified specific data

needs, water sources, and groundwater management actions and recommended an

implementation strategy to the Watermaster. The SIRP was a companion document that

included exhaustive statistical and graphical analyses of groundwater quality data to identify

potential seawater intrusion.

Groundwater Management for the Soquel-Aptos Basin, Soquel Creek Water District. For the

past nine years, Derrik has served as technical consultant and advisor to the Soquel Creek

Water District for all aspects of their groundwater program. Specific support includes updating

the groundwater management plan, investigating conjunctive use alternatives, providing well

master plan EIR support, designing and installing monitoring wells, seawater intrusion

monitoring, assisting with municipal well rehabilitation and restoration, and assisting with

negotiating with neighboring agencies.

Creek/Aquifer Interaction Study, Squaw Valley Public Service District (SVPSD). Derrik

directed a unique study to establish and quantify the interflow between Squaw Creek and the

adjoining shallow aquifers. The study used temperature monitoring techniques that can

directly estimate the flow rates between the Creek and the shallow aquifers. This project was

funded by a California Department of Water Resources AB303 Local Groundwater Assistance

Grant.

Cameron Tana, P.E. Page 1 of 2

Experience Summary A co-founder of HydroMetrics Water Resources Inc., Cameron Tana has 17 years of experience as a hydrologist focused on assisting public agencies in California manage their groundwater resources. Cameron uses analytical tools and numerical models to address his clients’ challenges and is particularly adept at selecting and implementing the analytical tools best suited to address specific ground- and surface-

water issues. He is experienced at communicating technical findings to

advance groundwater management, taking into account legal,

economic, and political challenges.

As a member of the American Water Works Association, Cameron serves as Chair of the California-Nevada Section’s Water Well Technology Committee.


Sustainable Groundwater Basin Management

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Implementation, Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency. Cameron has presented an overview of the Santa Cruz Mid-County Basin’s groundwater hydrology and groundwater management activities to the Santa Cruz Mid-County Stakeholder Advisory Committee, providing important background as the committee discussed stakeholder involvement in formation of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency. Cameron led the successful application to the Department of Water Resources to revise basin boundaries to consolidate portions of four basins into the Santa Cruz Mid-County Basin that will be managed by the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency (MGA). The revision included jurisdictional and scientific modifications of internal and external boundaries. Cameron coordinated between MGA members and neighboring agencies to ensure all basin boundary modification applications in Santa Cruz County were consistent. Cameron also assisted with MGA’s notification of its formation as a Groundwater Sustainability Agency to the state and represented the MGA in Central Coast advisory group meetings with the California Department of Water Resources, where he articulated how groundwater conditions on the Central Coast differ from the rest of the state.

Groundwater Zone of Benefit Study, Santa Clara Valley Water District. Cameron is leading a team to evaluate and revise the District’s groundwater zones of benefit that provide the basis for its groundwater charges. To date, the team has developed the study methodology and draft report to evaluate areas that benefit from the District’s in-lieu and managed recharge activities. Working with the outreach subconsultant and the District, Cameron planned meetings with stakeholder groups and presented study plans at the meetings.

EDUCATION M.Eng., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1999

B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 1998

A.B., Economics, Stanford University, 1998

EXPERIENCE 17 years

REGISTRATION Registered Professional, Engineer (Civil), California, #C65822

EXPERTISE o Three dimensional

groundwater flow and transport models

o Groundwater basin management

o Analysis of pumping impacts

o Inverse methods for calibrating numerical models

o Estuarine hydrodynamics models

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS o American Society of

Civil Engineers o American Water

Works Association o Emerging Leaders

Alliance o Groundwater

Resources Association of California

o National Ground Water Association

Cameron Tana, P.E. Page 2 of 2

Conjunctive Use Benefit of Treated Water, Santa Clara Valley Water District. Cameron led a water resources engineering team in support of an evaluation of the District’s groundwater production charges. The task involved estimating the economic benefit of in-lieu recharge to the groundwater basin from including treated surface water in the supply portfolio. Cameron evaluated the groundwater infrastructure required for a groundwater only portfolio and managed the cost estimates for developing the additional groundwater infrastructure.

Groundwater Basin Management, Soquel Creek Water District. Cameron has provided broad technical expertise to the Soquel Creek Water District since 2005 under four consecutive as-needed consulting contracts. His contributions have touched on all issues dealing with groundwater management for the Santa Cruz Mid-County Basin. Examples of his work include:

Revised the Groundwater Management Plan for the Basin, leads the compilation of annual reports on the state of the groundwater basin and the status of basin management objectives, and recommended updates to the Plan.

Developed drought curtailment criteria for an update of the Integrated Resources Plan. Cameron analyzed deep recharge results from a Precipitation Runoff Watershed Model to base drought curtailment stages on multi-year rainfall totals that indicate shortfalls of the groundwater recharge.

Groundwater Modeling/Analytical Hydrogeology

Santa Cruz Mid-County Basin Integrated Watershed-Groundwater Model, Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency. Cameron is project manager for development of a GSFLOW model of the Santa Cruz Mid-County Basin that integrates groundwater flow with watershed processes. He has directed strategy for updates to the basin conceptual model, model construction, estimates of non-metered pumping and return flow, and calibration to streamflows and groundwater levels. The model will be used to evaluate in-lieu recharge, recharge of purified water, and aquifer storage and recovery of excess surface water as well as analyses required by the Basin’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan. Cameron has led Technical Review Committee meetings and presented to the Agency Board on model development progress.

Groundwater Model Upgrades, Zone 7 Water Agency. Zone 7 uses its groundwater model to evaluate projects for salts and minerals management. Cameron updated and recalibrated the model to reflect new salinity and groundwater data. He developed and implemented a strategy for calibrating the Zone 7 model with pilot points and regularization using PEST. He provided training and technical consultation to Zone 7 in-house staff regarding optimizing use of the model. As part of a recently completed project to improve simulation of managed recharge and salt transport in the basin, he managed development of packages included in the MT3D-USGS release for transport in surface water and its interaction with groundwater.

PRESENTATIONS ON SGMA Culkin, S., C. Tana, and D. Williams. 2017. Using Cross-Sectional models to Develop Proxy Measurable

Thresholds for Seawater Intrusion. Groundwater Resources Association Tools for SGMA

Workshop. Modesto, CA.

Tana, C., S. Culkin, N. Byler, and D. Williams. 2016. First Steps in Inter-Basin Coordination for SGMA: Basin Boundary Modification Requests in Santa Cruz County, Groundwater Resources Association of California Annual Conference. Concord, CA.

Georgina King, P.G., C.Hg. Page 1 of 3


Experience Summary Georgina King is a Principal Hydrogeologist at HydroMetrics Water

Resources Inc. Educated in South Africa, she spent her early career

years with the South African Department of Water Affairs as

Assistant Director of groundwater resources for the province of

KwaZulu-Natal. She was responsible for the technical aspects of

managing groundwater, such as establishing a regional monitoring

network, rural water supply, and developing regional

hydrogeological maps. Since 2000, Georgina has worked in California

and focused on developing, managing, and protecting groundwater

resources. She has extensive experience in developing and managing

geographic information systems (GIS) and databases, which she

applies to most of her projects. She is experienced in managing and

conducting technical studies on basin-wide groundwater

management, large-capacity public water supply projects,

sustainable yield, and groundwater modeling projects.


Groundwater Supply/Groundwater Management

Well Siting Study, Santa Cruz County, Scotts Valley Water District.

As the primary author of a well siting study to identify up to three

new potential well sites, Georgina performed a GIS overlay analysis

that took into account hydrogeologic and logistical factors. She also

provided site specific actions that would need to take place for the

three preferred sites, and prepared the report.

Groundwater Management Plan Annual Report, Santa Cruz

County, Scotts Valley Water District. Georgina prepared the Water

Year 2016 annual report for the Santa Margarita Groundwater Basin.

The work included analyzing groundwater level and quality data,

preparing groundwater contour maps, and reporting on

environmental cleanup operations and drought impacts.

Groundwater Zone of Benefit Study, Santa Clara County, Santa

Clara Valley Water District. Georgina has contributed her

hydrogeologic and GIS expertise to a project to evaluate and revise

the District’s groundwater zones of benefit that provide the basis for

its groundwater charges. She assisted the project team in developing

the study methodology to evaluate areas that benefit from the

District’s in-lieu and managed recharge activities. She also will work

with the project surveyor to determine metes and bounds for the

zones of benefit based on boundaries developed in GIS.

EDUCATION M.S., Geohydrology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa, 1997

B.S., Engineering Geology, University of Natal-Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, 1992

B.S., Geology, University of Natal-Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, 1991

Postbaccalaureate Certificate in GIS, Penn State, 2016

EXPERIENCE 24 years

REGISTRATION Registered Geologist, California, #8023

Certified Hydrogeologist, California, #874

EXPERTISE ► Hydrogeologic

characterization

► Groundwater basin management

► Groundwater recharge

► Groundwater quality

► Geographical Information Systems and database management

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS ► Association of California

Water Agencies

► Groundwater Resources Association of California

► National Ground Water Association



Groundwater Recharge Capacity Evaluation, Phase I, Tulare Irrigation District (TID). Georgina

was the primary analyst and author of a recharge capacity report that estimated the surface and

groundwater budgets of the TID service area, identifies potential water sources to supplement

groundwater recharge, evaluated existing recharge capacity and required future capacity given the

potential sources available.

Ventura County Water Supply and Demand, Ventura County. Georgina was the project manager

and lead hydrogeologist in developing countywide water supply and demand estimates for 2013.

To estimate the amount of undocumented demand by urban and agricultural private users, a

demand calculator (IDC) was developed to estimate the countywide demands. The difference

between the countywide demand and the documented use was assumed to be the private use.

Seaside Groundwater Basin Laguna Seca Subarea Safe Yield, Seaside Basin Watermaster.

Georgina was the project manager for a modeling study to estimate the safe yield of the Laguna

Seca subarea which has experienced ongoing declines in groundwater levels. She was responsible

for directing modeling work carried out, preparing the technical memorandum, and presenting the

results to the Technical Advisory Committee.

Oxnard and Pleasant Valley Salt and Nutrient Management Plan, City of Oxnard/Carollo

Engineers. Georgina provided technical hydrogeologic information that was incorporated into a

salt and nutrient management plan for three groundwater basins. Georgina was responsible for the

basin characterization, estimating existing groundwater quality, and assimilative capacity portions

of the plan.

Lower Santa Clara River Salt and Nutrient Management Plan, Ventura County/Larry Walker

Associates. Georgina was the project manager for HydroMetrics WRI which was part of a team of

consultants preparing a salt and nutrient management plan for five groundwater basins. Georgina

was responsible for the basin characterization, estimating existing groundwater quality, and

assimilative capacity portions of the plan.

Seaside Basin Salt and Nutrient Management Plan, Monterey Peninsula Water Management

District. Georgina was the project manager and principal author of the salt and nutrient plan for

the Seaside basin. She was also responsible for preparing the Prop 84 grant application that

provided funding for the project.

Seaside Groundwater Basin Hydrogeologic Studies, Seaside Basin Watermaster. Georgina is the

project manager for all hydrogeologic studies and annual reports for the Seaside Basin

Watermaster. She has managed finalization of reports including the Basin Management Action

Plan, annual Seawater Intrusion Analysis Report since 2009, and the Seawater Intrusion Response

Plan.

Groundwater Management for the Soquel-Aptos Basin, Soquel Creek Water District. Since

2009, Georgina has been involved in preparing the annual groundwater review and report as per

Groundwater Management Plan requirements. She develops seasonal groundwater contour maps

and prepares all GIS maps.



AB303 Aquifer/Stream Interaction, Squaw Valley Public Service District. Georgina has

conducted installation of pressure transducers in monitoring wells, and pumping tests to study the

interaction between a local creek and production wells. This work is ongoing.

Laura D. Brown Page 1 of 2

1814 Franklin Street, Suite 501, Oakland, CA 94612

EDUCATION B.A. Political Science, University of Southern California, 1976 Senior Executive Institute, University of Virginia, 1985

EXPERIENCE 33 years Public Administration

17 years Groundwater Resources Management

EXPERTISE o Groundwater

Resources Management

o Integrated Water Resources Planning & Development

o Water Conservation o Seawater Desalination

Issues & Permitting o Interagency

Negotiation and Coordination

o Public Outreach and Engagement

o Municipal Utility Administration

o California Laws and Regulations pertaining to Local Gov’t, Groundwater and Drinking Water

HONORS o Santa Cruz Chamber

of Commerce Woman of the Year 2013

o Aptos Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year 2007

Experience Summary

Laura Brown joined HydroMetrics Water Resources, Inc. as a

Senior Manager in 2013, following a 33-year career in local

government administration.

From 1995 through 2012, Laura provided solid and progressive

leadership as General Manager of the highly regarded Soquel

Creek Water District (SqCWD) in Santa Cruz County, which is

entirely dependent on local aquifers for its water supply. Under

Laura’s leadership, SqCWD was identified as one of California’s

exemplary and innovative groundwater management agencies by

numerous groups’ publications including:

The Association of California Water Agencies’

Sustainability from the Ground Up: A Framework for

Groundwater Management in California

Stanford University’s Woods Institute’s Uncommon

Innovation: Developments in Groundwater Management

Planning in California

Prior to managing SqCWD, Laura served as Assistant City

Manager for both the City of Monterey (1991 – 1995) and the City

of Santa Cruz (1985 – 1991).

Since joining HydroMetrics WRI, Laura has become well-versed

in the provisions of the Sustainable Groundwater Management

Act (SGMA) and has provided a variety of SGMA related services

to clients.

Laura excels at complex problem solving and strategic planning,

teamwork, public outreach and community engagement,

fostering inter-agency cooperation, regulatory compliance, sound

fiscal management and professional integrity and ethics.

Laura has an agricultural background and is very engaged with

current California agricultural issues through familial

relationships.

Laura D. Brown Page 2 of 2

1814 Franklin Street, Suite 501, Oakland, CA 94612


Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)

Develop Guidance Documents for Interagency Agreements and Other Tasks Related to GSA

Formation, County of San Luis Obispo (June 2016 – Present).

Funded through a Prop 1 grant, Laura has provided reference and public outreach materials to

be available to GSAs within San Luis Obispo County. This included researching and analyzing

groundwater management agency governance structures, preparing a worksheet for

developing a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA), and preparing SGMA Fact Sheets and Frequently

Asked Questions for the public. She is currently developing guidance documents for GSA start-

up. The latter is a resource addressing GSA staffing decisions, conducting agency business,

initial board actions to form and administer the new agency, sample policy documents, and a

work plan outline for undertaking preparation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan.

Groundwater Management

Soquel Creek Water District (SqCWD) (1995 – 2012). With her agency being the primary user

of the overdrafted Soquel-Aptos groundwater basin and solely dependent on groundwater,

Laura supported a diverse group of 25 community stakeholders through a process that: 1)

achieved consensus on the water supply shortage; 2) vetted a list of viable conservation and

supply alternatives against agreed upon criteria; and 3) provided a roadmap for meeting long-

term water needs. Laura also led the effort for SqCWD to greatly expand its coastal and inland

groundwater monitoring program; prepare a Well Master Plan to strategically locate and design

new and replacement wells to more uniformly pump the basin; establish a collaborative

approach to groundwater management with other stakeholders; implement a monitoring and

mitigation program for private wells within the potential impact radii of new municipal wells;

and establish groundwater level goals to protect against seawater intrusion.

Tulare Irrigation District (TID) Groundwater Recharge Capacity Evaluation (2014 – Present).

Laura serves as project manager for this project that includes a water budget to determine a

groundwater sustainability goal for TID and assessment of current and potential recharge

capacity and supply resources.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Groundwater Zone of Benefit Study, Santa Clara Valley Water District. This project is to

evaluate and revise the District’s groundwater zones of benefit that provide the basis for its

groundwater charges. Laura reviews and edits all reports and presentations associated with this

highly technical and potentially controversial study for clarity and understandability by the

general public.

Bryan Bondy, PG, CHG Bondy Groundwater Consulting, Inc.

9452 Telephone Road, #112, Ventura, CA 93004 ● 805-212-0484 ● [email protected] 1 of 2

EDUCATION MS, Geological Sciences (Hydrogeology), San Diego State University (2000)

BS, Geological Sciences (Hydrogeology), San Diego State University (1997)

GIS Certification, Mt. San Jacinto Junior College (2008) PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS Professional Geologist: California No. 7676

Certified Hydrogeologist: California No. 821 DISTINGUISHING QUALIFICATIONS • Hands-on SGMA

experience

• Former public water agency management employee experience

• Strong technical, writing, and public speaking skills

• Seeks to provide practical and cost-effective solutions

Bryan has 20 years of experience conducting a wide range of groundwater projects in California. His experience includes both public water agency and consulting experience including, Sustainable Groundwater Management Act implementation, groundwater supply studies, well design, construction, and rehabilitation, contaminant hydrogeology, groundwater modeling, interagency planning and coordination, permitting, project management, grant writing, and grant management. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY 2016-Present: President, Bondy Groundwater Consulting, Inc. Bryan is the founder and President of Bondy Groundwater Consulting, Inc. formed in 2016 to service the growing need for groundwater professionals to address Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requirements and other groundwater regulatory and planning issues.

2012-Present*: Contract Groundwater Manager, Calleguas Municipal Water District, Ventura County, California. Bryan has served as the District’s expert groundwater hydrogeologist and has served on the District’s management team since 2012. Bryan’s responsibilities include addressing legal and technical issues related to operation of the District’s aquifer storage and recovery project. Bryan serves on the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency’s Board-appointed Technical Advisory Group for Sustainable Groundwater Management Act implementation and he is the facilitator of the Las Posas Valley Groundwater Basin Users Group, where he advises the groundwater users on Sustainable Groundwater Management Act planning issues. * In July 2016, Bryan’s role transitioned to a part-time Contract Groundwater Manager position serviced through Bondy Groundwater Consulting, Inc.

2009- 2012: Groundwater Policy Senior Hydrogeologist (Inter-Agency Position), Calleguas Municipal Water District, United Water Conservation District, and Fox Canyon Groundwater Agency, Ventura County, California. Bryan served as the Inter-Agency Groundwater Hydrogeologist working on groundwater management issues affecting the above-listed agencies.

2005-2009: Principal Hydrogeologist, Aqui-Ver, Inc., Temecula, California. Bryan served as a principal-in-charge on groundwater remediation design projects.

2000 – 2005: Senior Hydrogeologist / Project Manager, Kleinfelder, Inc., Temecula, California. As a client service manager, Bryan was responsible for numerous groundwater supply and remediation projects. As one of the few hydrogeologists in the firm at the time, Bryan was frequently called upon to assist other Kleinfelder offices with groundwater projects. Bryan also managed a team of professional staff and technicians.

1996 – 2000: Staff Hydrogeologist, Hargis + Associates, Inc., San Diego, California. As a staff hydrogeologist, Bryan completed numerous groundwater investigations. PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC HONORS Kleinfelder President’s Award for Exceptional Client Service

Member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa Honor Societies

Undergraduate Honors: Summa Cum Laude, Student of the Year

Bryan Bondy, PG, CHG Bondy Groundwater Consulting, Inc.

9452 Telephone Road, #112, Ventura, CA 93004 ● 805-212-0484 ● [email protected] 2 of 2

SELECTED REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE AND PROJECTS SGMA Technical Advisory Group – Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency (FCGMA), Ventura County, California. In 2015, Bryan was appointed by the Agricultural Representative on the FCGMA Board of Directors to the Agency’s SGMA Technical Advisory Group. The committee is tasked with advising the Board of Directors on technical aspects of the four Groundwater Sustainability Plans currently under development.

SGMA Advisor – Yuima Municipal Water District. Bryan was hired by Yuima Municipal Water District to advise the General Manager and Board of Directors concerning the development of the San Luis Rey Valley GSP.

SGMA Advisor – City of San Diego. Bryan is teamed with another consulting firm to provide technical services for the City of San Diego on SGMA and other related groundwater issues in multiple groundwater basins.

SGMA Stakeholder Group Advisor/Facilitator - Las Posas Valley Groundwater Basin Users Group, Ventura County, California. Since 2009, Bryan has served as the Las Posas Valley Groundwater Basin Users (stakeholder) Group’s technical advisor and facilitator. During this time Bryan has educated the stakeholders on the basin groundwater hydrology, groundwater management issues, and led the group through a groundwater management planning process prior to SGMA. More recently, Bryan facilitated the group’s development of a pumping allocation management program for the Groundwater Sustainability Plan.

SGMA Data Gaps Evaluation – Countywide Groundwater Monitoring Program, County of San Luis Obispo. Bryan is the lead hydrogeologist working with GSI Water Solutions, Inc. performing a data gaps evaluation of the County’s groundwater monitoring program. The purpose of the project is to identify data gaps in the existing groundwater monitoring program relative to the SGMA GSP regulations and BMPs.

SGMA Basin Prioritization Re-Evaluation Project – Las Posas Valley Basin. Bryan, on behalf of the Las Posas Valley Groundwater Basin Users Group, worked with DWR staff to re-assess the “critical overdraft” designation of the Las Posas Valley Basin. Mr. Bondy reviewed groundwater conditions with DWR staff and recommended that the basin be reclassified. DWR staff concurred with Mr. Bondy’s recommendation and the basin was ultimately removed from the “critical overdraft” priority list.

SGMA Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Guidance Framework, The Nature Conservancy and Department of Water Resources. Bryan is serving on a subcommittee of the Fox Canyon GMA SGMA Technical Advisory Group that is working with The Nature Conservancy and DWR to develop a guidance manual for the identification, evaluation, and consideration of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems under SGMA.

USGS Groundwater Model Review United Water Conservation District, Santa Paula, CA. Bryan performed an independent, comprehensive review of the Ventura Regional Groundwater Model originally completed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The model area includes the groundwater basins of the Santa Clara River Valley and Coastal Plain of Ventura County, which provide almost half of the water supply for Ventura County. Bryan’s review revealed that the model was not accurately predicting groundwater levels in key areas of the basins, which led to a decision by the District to reconstruct and re-calibrate the model.

Santee – El Monte Basin Groundwater Management Study, San Diego County Water Authority, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Riverview Water District, Lakeside Water District, Helix Water District, and City of San Diego. Bryan was the principal investigator for this study to develop information and planning tools necessary to manage the groundwater resources of the Santee-El Monte Basin. The study consisted of a hydrogeologic evaluation of the basin, water budget development, groundwater monitoring well installation, establishment of a groundwater monitoring network, groundwater monitoring and water quality testing, and development of a groundwater flow model of the basin.

Goleta Basin Groundwater Management Plan Update, Goleta, California. Bryan was the lead author of the Goleta Water District’s 2016 Groundwater Management Plan update.

J. Michael Harty Principal/Senior Mediator

Discipline/Specialty

! Assessment and process design

! Environmental mediation/facilitation

! Public Engagement Planning and Implementation

! Policy and Regulatory Analysis

! Policy Evaluation

! Natural Resource Management

Education ! J.D. cum laude, Georgetown

University Law Center

! B.A. cum laude, Political Philosophy, Kenyon College

Professional Affiliations and Awards ! Roster Member, U.S. Institute for

Environmental Conflict

Resolution

! American Bar Association

! Bar admissions: NY (inactive), CO (inactive)

Summary of Qualifications

J. Michael Harty is a Principal with Kearns & West and oversees the Sacramento regional office located in Davis, California. He has over 20 years of direct experience in the field of conflict management, mediation, facilitated decision making, public outreach and engagement, and strategic planning, and was a practicing attorney for eight years before turning full time to conflict resolution.

Mike has substantive experience with water rights, water quality, conjunctive water management, groundwater, flood risk management, oceans, mining, ecosystem restoration and endangered species issues, among others. He has worked with numerous local, state, and federal agencies, both internally and in multi-agency contexts. He also has worked with a wide range of stakeholders in and around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Mike is familiar with CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, NEPA, and the Endangered Species Act, and with some state natural resource and environmental statutes, particularly those in California including SGMA, MLMA, MLPA, CESA, and CEQA. He is also familiar with water rights frameworks around the Western United States. Mike also has significant experience working with government agencies at all levels around strategic planning, organizational change, policy development, and conflict resolution.

Selected Experience

The following projects are provided as examples, generally in chronological order. Please contact Kearns & West to discuss any of these projects or learn about others not listed here.

SGMA Implementation (2015 – 2017) K&W worked in portions of five sub-basins located in Butte and Merced Counties over the past two years supporting implemenation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The K&W roles included conducting assessments intended to develop recommendations for local decision makers about options for forming Groundwater Sustainability Agencies. K&W worked with county staff and other eligible local agency representatives to design and support collaborative efforts to form GSAs prior to the June 30, 2017 deadline. The implementation processes differed as a result of local interests and dynamics, as anticipated under SGMA, but stakeholders were successful in meeting initial SGMA requirements. Mike served as the project lead for both efforts.

Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) SGMA Support (Ongoing)

Kearns & West is teamed with a technical consultant (Geosyntec) to assist BAWSCA as it makes decisions related to groundwater management in the context of SGMA.

J. Michael Harty Principal/Senior Mediator

California Water Foundation Groundwater Project (2014-2015) In early 2014 the California Water Foundation engaged K&W to assist with design and facilitation of a Stakeholder Dialog process to support development of a report to Governor Brown and the Legislature on sustainable groundwater management. The project timeframe was short: eight weeks from initiation to finalizing a report with policy recommendations. Mike worked with CWF to design the Dialogue’s three- track process: a Steering Committee, a round of Interest Group meetings that combined in-person and webinar participation, and one-on-one meetings. In addition to its Findings and Recommendations, the CWF report highlighted areas of agreement across stakeholder groups, along with differences in views on key issues to be addressed in the policy process. Mike subsequently was hired by CWF to facilitate a series of public meetings sponsored by legislators and the Governor’s office designed to gather input on pending legislative proposals for groundwater management. Following adoption of California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) late in 2014, Mike served as project lead for a Kearns & West team that assisted multiple co-sponsors in designing, planning, and facilitating three educational workshops on the unique local governance requirements of the SGMA. As a final task for CWF, Mike led a K&W team that worked with four counties, local agencies, and other stakeholders across the Colusa Sub-basin to convene, design, and conduct a well attended meeting in July 2015 that explored opportunities for collaborative groundwater governance.

State Water Project Contract Extension Negotiations (2013-2014) The California State Water Project provides water to 25 million Californians and 750,000 acres of agricultural land. It is a water storage and delivery system of reservoirs, aqueducts, power plants and pumping plants, the main purpose of which is to store water and distribute it to 29 urban and agricultural public water agencies in Northern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, the San Joaquin Valley, the Central Coast, and Southern California. Contract extension involves extending and amending the water supply contracts between the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and 29 State Water Project (SWP) Contractors beyond the current contract cost repayment period that terminates in December 2035. The formal phase of these complex negotiations is required to be conducted in public. Mike was part of a Kearns & West team that provided process support, including facilitation, for the public negotiation process. K&W also advised DWR about preparations for the public negotiations.

Delta Stewardship Council Outreach and Engagement (2010-2013) Mike was the project manager for a Kearns & West team that support outreach and public engagement for the Delta Stewardship Council and also provided internal support for organizational transition. As part of that role, Mike worked with Council staff during 2010 to organize and conduct a series of stakeholder work group sessions on key issues of importance for development of both an interim plan and Delta Plan. He later worked with staff to gather input about organizational transition issues and plan and conduct an initial all- staff conversation.

Yuba Salmon Forum and Yuba Salmon Partnership Initiative (2009-ongoing) Convened in 2009, the Yuba Salmon Forum is a multi-stakeholder effort to develop and implement a collaborative process to address anadromous fish restoration and water management issues in the Yuba River Watershed. Kearns & West conducted an initial assessment that led to convening, process design, and facilitation services for the Forum; Mike has served as the Forum’s facilitator since late in 2011. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides financial support for the Kearns & West facilitation role. Stakeholders include representatives from state, federal, tribal, NGO, and public water agencies, including the CA Department of Water Resources, CA Department of Fish and Wildlife, Yuba County Water Agency, and American Rivers. The Forum has focused intensively on gathering and analyzing technical data involving salmonid habit and cost estimates for various actions to support species recovery in order to support future decision making about restoration activities. The Yuba Salmon Partnership Initiative involves many of the same participants as the Forum; its discussions currently are subject to a confidentiality agreement. Bar Admission Colorado (no longer active), New York (no longer active)

Contact Information [email protected] 530-298-7111 (o); 530-902-4322 (c)

Ellen Cross Sr. Facilitator

Summary of Qualifications Ellen drives diverse stakeholders forward to develop and realize shared

vision and success. Ellen Cross has more than 27 years of experience in the

California water and environmental science industry creating successful

innovative solutions through forums for vision, collaboration, and

achievement. Ellen brings a large-scale view of proven strategic and tactical

approaches to develop outcomes that meet multi-stakeholder objectives.

Beginning her career on Capitol Hill leading workshops on anti-terrorism,

global environmental issues and narco-trafficking under the auspices of the

United Nations and United States Information Agency, Ellen has a history

of creating neutral forums to work on critical topics where communication

and leadership are key to moving complex issues forward.

In the area of emerging challenges, Ellen has successfully facilitated public

and private entities on Superfund, climate change, restoration in the Delta,

water scarcity, sea level rise and flood protection. Ellen has facilitated

intiatives that envision the multi stakeholder success goals and

operationlizes the tactics to achieve results holistically on policy,

governance, stakeholders, funding, institituional and technical goals to

ensure sustained success.

Example Projects Private Consultants Groundwater + Sustainable Groundwater

Management Act (SGMA) Facilitation + Strategic Communications for

GEI, Environmental Science Associates, HydroMetrics Water Resources

Inc., Churchwell White (2005-present)

Ellen has served as a Senior Facilitator and Strategic Communications

Advisor for private industry consultants that focus on groundwater

challenges from a broad range of perspectives including: technical,

environmental compliance and permitting, and specific basin stakeholder

concerns. Scope has included developing strategy and approach for

pursuing groundwater and SGMA related projects including: strategic

planning to capture Fox Canyon SGMA, Mid Kaweah, Tulare, Irvine Ranch

Water Agency, Kings Canyon, Department of Water Resources, San Luis

Obispo, Sacramento Water Forum to name a few.

San Francisco Bay Region Coastal Hazards Adaptation Resiliency Group

(CHARG) (2014-present)

Ellen served as the primary facilitator for more than 100 stakeholders

including federal, state and local flood managers, planners, scientists and

engineers who are undertaking the development and implementation of

regional solutions to issues associated with sea level rise and extreme tides.

Discipline/Specialty

▪ Facilitated and drafted

governance frameworks for water + flood agencies

▪ Created funding strategies for emerging water and flood initiatives

▪ Worked among local, regional, state and federal agencies on top water and flood issues

▪ Crafted strategic communications at programmatic level to meet funding, technical, institutional and stakeholder objectives

▪ Provided implementation of Strategic Plans ensuring performance metrics and success

Education/Training

▪ Bachelor of Science, Political Science, University of Oregon

▪ Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University

▪ Water Education Foundation; MetroChamber Cap to Cap: Association of California Water Agencies

She worked closely with the sponsoring agencies and 13 steering committee members including local

county flood districts (Alameda, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Francisquito

Creek JPA; state (BCDC, BARC, Coastal Conservancy, DWR), federal (FEMA, USACE), and NGOs (San

Francisco Estuary Institute) to develop CHARG’s vision and goals for CHARG’s Strategic Brief (Q1 2015).

She played a central role to keep the working groups (policy, funding and technical) engaged and focused

on important issues that address resiliency. Also, she co-authored strategic communications including

presentations, poster boards, memoranda of understanding, governance models, letters of support,

workshop and meeting notes with emphasis on outcomes and actions. Ellen facilitated stakeholder

workshops and represented and spoke on behalf of CHARG at professional organizations.

Marin County Department of Public Works BayWAVE Facilitation + Strategic Communications for

Sea Level Rise On Call Contract (2016-Present)

Ellen served as senior facilitator for outreach to more than 55 public officials ranging from public works,

city mayors to emergency responders for BayWAVE that represents the County’s Vulnerability

Assessment outreach. The first task order included facilitation and development of a Strategic

Communications Plan which includes talking points as well as a PowerPoint for officials to educate their

organizations and provide a unified message across the various public authorities throughout the

County.

DWR Division of Flood Management / Interagency Flood Management Collaborative Program. (2014-

present)

Ellen is facilitating the IFMCP which is comprised of, but not limited to representatives from the USFWS,

National Marine Fisheries Service, USACE, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Valley

Flood Protection Board, and DWR - Flood Maintenance and FloodSAFE Environmental Stewardship and

Statewide Resources Offices. The IFMCP's intent is to promote dialogue between maintaining agency and

regulatory agency staff, identify maintenance opportunities and constraints, and improve permitting and

maintenance procedures for flood control activities on local and regional scales. The IFMCP was

mandated by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to collaboratively work with flood protection

implementers and the resource agencies to prevent a “California Katrina.”

Mid and Upper Sacramento River Regional Flood Management Plan. (2015)

Ellen facilitated two workshops to identify multi-benefit opportunities on behalf of landowners, public

agencies and community organizations who are partnering to identify and address regional flood

management challenges and opportunities within the Mid and Upper Sacramento River basin. Over 50

stakeholders from urban cities, small communities and rural areas including local agri-business,

government, state and federal resource agencies, NGOs and the Department of Water Resources

participated. The MUSR RFMP is a follow up to the 2012 CVFPP and will be used to inform the 2017

update of the CVFPP. The MUSR RFMP outlines the long-term vision for flood management in the region

and includes a description of the current flood management conditions, opportunities for improving flood

management within the Planning Area, needed projects based upon priority, and a preliminary financing

plan that will compete for state and federal funding.

Delta Stewardship Council Delta Science Plan Strategic Plan Facilitation (February-Present 2017)

Facilitated 20+ scientists for the Delta Science Program’s Strategic Plan to include emphasis on vision, core

culture, successon and leadership planning and key priroty objectives to plan and implement their key

science programatic goals within and external to the Delta.

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Timothy P. Leo, P.G., Hydrogeologist / Principal

Tim Leo manages large, multidisciplinary water resources projects. For nearly three decades, he has worked on a variety of groundwater resource projects throughout the western United States for private-sector and municipal clients. As a principal hydrogeologist, he routinely provides senior guidance to staff on a variety of technical hydrogeologic analyses. In his technical work, he specializes in analytical hydrogeology, groundwater modeling, groundwater system characterization and testing, hydrogeologic conceptual models and water budgets, and groundwater remediation. His current focus is on water resources projects in CA, with a particular focus on managed aquifer recharge studies. He recently led the opening of our Sacramento office and currently leads the marketing effort for that branch office.

Representative Projects

Managed Aquifer Recharge

Managed Aquifer Recharge Capacity Study • Conjunctive Water Use Study • Tulare Irrigation District Under subcontract to HydroMetrics Water Resources Inc., assessed recharge capacity at over 1,000 acres of infiltration basins; work included field studies to assess lithologic conditions, including testing to determine infiltration rates [TULARE COUNTY, CA]

Managed Aquifer Recharge Capacity Study • Proposed Groundwater Bank • Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency Under subcontract to WestWater Research, LLC, managed a modeling study to assess the recharge capacity at two proposed enterprise groundwater banks; developed recommendations for additional investigations to prove-out the recharge capacity; supported an evaluation to determine if one of the water banks could be partially funded under WSIP [LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA]

Impact Analysis • Effluent Recharge APP • City of Avondale Conducted a groundwater modeling study to project the area impacted by discharge from a proposed recycled water recharge basin [MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ]

Groundwater Resource Protection

Groundwater Restoration • Inactive Rancho Cordova Site • The Boeing Company Provided strategic direction for a regional groundwater remedy; directed groundwater investigations, feasibility studies, remedial action planning, groundwater modeling, remedial wellfield design, source area remediation; currently manages stakeholder communications and provides strategic direction on remedy effectiveness, cost containment, and risk management [SACRAMENTO

COUNTY, CA]

Conceptual Site Model • Industrial Site • Montrose Chemical Company Developed a hydrogeologic conceptual model for a complex site in Nevada; conceptual model evaluated groundwater flow conditions, effects of

Office: TUCSON/SACRAMENTO

Years Experience

Total: 29 | M&A: 9

Education

M.S., Hydrology, University of Arizona (1988)

B.S., Geology, Bradley University (1983)

Key Areas of Expertise

Water resource evaluations

Groundwater modeling

Environmental hydrogeology

Groundwater system characterization, testing and analysis

Managed aquifer recharge

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groundwater contamination, and effectiveness of remediation system at protecting groundwater resources in the Colorado River watershed [CLARK

COUNTY, NV]

Hydrogeologic Investigations • Former Lisbon Mine & Mill • Rio Algom Mining LLC Managed a comprehensive hydrogeologic investigation that included well drilling, sampling, and testing; development of a conceptual site model, development of a groundwater model, preparation of reports and presentations for project stakeholders [SAN JUAN COUNTY, UT]

Groundwater Restoration • Various Sites • City of Tucson, Pima County, and State of Arizona Provided a range of analyses of groundwater contamination sites for city, county, and state agencies; projects include evaluation of groundwater restoration programs at historical landfills; evaluation of impacts to public from contaminated groundwater; presented results of groundwater models to project stakeholders [AZ]


Groundwater Restoration • Various Sites• Various Clients Developed or directed the development of groundwater models to design, optimize, or evaluate groundwater restoration wellfields at five Superfund sites in the CA and AZ; analyses included studies to improve wellfield operations to protect potable water supplies and limit impact to groundwater resources; presented complex model results to project stakeholders, including the public [AZ/CA]

Water Resource Management Studies • Various Mine Sites• Various Clients Developed groundwater models to evaluate various groundwater management scenarios at copper and gold mines; model uses have included estimating groundwater inflows to open pits and underground tunnels; evaluating environmental impacts from mine groundwater pumping; evaluating impacts to surface and groundwater quality from mine water discharges, among others [U.S AND SOUTH AMERICA]

Model Reviews • Various Sites • Various Clients Reviewed groundwater model developed for variety of water resource objectives; evaluated model parameters and model calibration; recalibrated models; provided recommendations for model improvement [TULARE AND

ORANGE COUNTY, CA]

Expert Testimony & Litigation Support

Expert Testimony Support • Various Sites • Various Clients Evaluated hydrogeologic data and conducted groundwater modeling in support of expert testimony; presented complex data analyses to nontechnical stakeholders [AZ, CA, AND HI]

Professional Registrations

Registered Professional Geologist #6163, CA

Certified Professional Hydrogeologist #344, CA

Registered Professional Geologist #33257, AZ

Registered Professional Geologist #8272244, UT

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Colin P. Kikuchi, Ph.D., Hydrologist

Colin joined M&A in 2014, bringing a background in quantitative hydrology and resource economics. From 2012–2013, he served as the lead instructor for the Alaska Section of American Water Resources Association’s workshop series on groundwater and surface-water interactions.



Recharge Uncertainty Analysis • San Pedro – Inacaliri Basin • CODELCO Evaluated hydrogeologic and geochemical data to develop alternate conceptual models; quantified the uncertainty of groundwater budget components, including natural recharge and underflow in and out of basin [CHILE]

Numerical Groundwater Flow Simulation • Salares de Centenario & Ratones • ERAMET SA Developed an approach to simulate head-dependent evaporation by the finite-element code FEFLOW to support ongoing modeling efforts [ARGENTINA]

Aquifer Storage & Recovery Model • Santa Margarita Basin • HydroMetrics WRI Conducting a modeling study of aquifer storage and recovery for the Santa Margarita Basin [SANTA CRUZ, CA]

Hydrologic Impact Analysis

Recharge Analysis • Salar de Lagunillas • Compañía Minera Cerro Colorado Designed and installed a streambed and borehole temperature monitoring network; analyzed the statistical uncertainty of natural groundwater recharge [CHILE]

Contaminant Investigation

Analysis of Aquifer Test Data • Inactive Rancho Cordova Test Site • The Boeing Company Compiled data on groundwater pumping rates and water levels; developed a conceptual model of an unconsolidated, multiple-aquifer system; used analytical and numerical solutions to infer aquifer hydraulic properties based on aquifer test data [SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA]

Analysis of Well Capture • Inactive Rancho Cordova Test Site • The Boeing Company Developed probabilistic approach to determination of capture from extraction wells based on realization of lithofacies within unconsolidated sediments [SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA]

Adjudication & Water Rights

Litigation Support • Confidential Project • Confidential Client Prepared groundwater and surface water budgets based on historical data; evaluated a framework for estimating groundwater diversion for irrigation uses

Office: TUCSON

Years of Experience

Total: 8 | M&A: 3

Education

Ph.D., Hydrology & Water Resources, Minor in Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Arizona (2016)

M.S., Hydrology & Water Resources, University of Arizona (2011)

B.A., Environmental Studies and Geography, Middlebury College (2005)


Groundwater flow modeling

Quantitative uncertainty prediction for hydrologic simulations

Analysis of groundwater / surface water interactions

Design of hydrologic monitoring networks

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and irrigation return flows; developed a conceptual framework for quantifying farm budget components at the irrigation-district scale [NM]

Experience

USGS Experience

Served as a technical review team member for aquatic and riparian instream flow studies, Susitna–Watana Hydroelectric Project, as part of the FERC licensing process

Performed field investigations and hydrologic simulations for a permafrost-affected boreal catchment

Worked as lead scientist for regional-scale groundwater availability study

Developed conceptual hydrogeologic model and a numerical groundwater flow model for the Matanuska-Susitna Valley

Used a land-surface modeling code to estimate spatially distributed groundwater recharge

Publications & Presentations

Journal Articles

Towards Increased Use of Data Worth Analyses in Groundwater Studies Kikuchi, C.P., in Groundwater, in press

On the optimal design of experiments for conceptual and predictive discrimination of hydrologic system models Kikuchi, C.P., Ferré, T.P.A., and Vrugt, J.A., 2015, in Water Resources Research, volume 51

Runoff sources and flow paths in a partially burned, upland boreal catchment underlain by permafrost Koch, J.C., Kikuchi, C.P., Wickland, K.P., and Schuster, P., 2014, in Water Resources Research, volume 50 issue 10

Spatially telescoping measurements for improved characterization of groundwater-surface water interactions Kikuchi, C.P., Ferré, T.P.A., and Welker, J.M., 2012, in Journal of Hydrology, volume 446–447

Professional Reports

Shallow groundwater in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Alaska – Conceptualization and simulation of flow Kikuchi, C.P., 2013, USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5049

Codes & Software

MODFLOW, MODFLOW-USG PEST

AQTESOLV

MAxSym (Axisymmetric Numerical Simulator)

IDC (Irrigation Demand Calculator)

SURFER/KT3D

Awards & Distinctions

2012: Harshbarger Doctoral Fellowship in Subsurface Hydrology

2011: Galileo Circle Scholarship

2010: Outstanding Student Paper, American Geophysical Union

Additional Training

2015: Fundamentals of MODFLOW-USG, an unstructured grid version of MODFLOW

2015: Model Calibration and Uncertainty Analysis with PEST

2011: Practical Statistics for Environmental Applications

2010: Introduction to Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) Systems for Water Resource

Applications

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Staffan W. Schorr, Hydrogeologist / Principal

Staffan Schorr is a hydrogeologist and GIS specialist with a background in numerical and analytical groundwater flow modeling. He has developed data management systems for data management, analysis, visualization, and dissemination for a variety of M&A’s projects. He also has extensive experience using GIS methods to develop numerical model inputs, display model results, and develop geospatial databases for conceptual hydrogeologic models. He also manages M&A’s 3D modeling services, and specializes in the use of Leapfrog software to develop volumetric geologic and geochemical interpolation models. Prior to joining M&A, Staffan worked for 8 years in watershed planning at a regional agency that facilitates coordination among local jurisdictions.


Hydrogeologic Characterization and Data Management• Rio Grande• Confidential Client Developed regional conceptual model for a portion of the Rio Grande basin in support of litigation activities; constructed spatial and non-spatial databases for conceptual and numerical model development; developed secure online database for data sharing among project team and stakeholders; conducted hydrogeologic assessments and water budget analyses; developed regional three-dimensional geologic model for visualization and input to groundwater flow model. [NM, TX, NORTHERN MEXICO]

Hydrogeologic Characterization and Data Management• Lower Rio Grande Valley Developed conceptual hydrogeologic model for the Lower Rio Grande Valley Groundwater Transport Model for the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB); constructed spatial and relational databases in support of conceptual and numerical model development; compiled publicly available data including TWDB’s Groundwater database and Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System database; conducted hydrogeologic assessments; supervised the development of three-dimensional geologic model for visualization of aquifer system and for input to groundwater model; and prepared input datasets for the numerical model. [TX]

Groundwater Flow Model and Data Management• Hueco Bolson• El Paso Water Utilities Developed conceptual model for the Hueco Bolson groundwater basin; constructed wells database to facilitate well management by the water utility; developed spatial and relational databases for conceptual and numerical model development; compiled and evaluated data from the Texas groundwater database; developed three-dimensional geologic model for visualization and input to groundwater flow model; and constructed and calibrated a groundwater flow model to support wellfield and water resource management. [EL PASO

COUNTY, TX]

Office: TUCSON

Years Experience

Total: 19 | M&A: 11

Education

M.S., Hydrology, University of Arizona (2005)

B.S., Geology, University of Arizona (1997)


Regional hydrogeologic characterization

Database development and management

Integration of GIS and conceptual models for numerical model construction

Flow and transport modeling

Development of geologic models

Aquifer test design, implementation, and data analysis

Resumes

PAGE 2

Dewatering & Impacts Modeling • Collahuasi Mine / Rosario Pit • Compañía Minera Doña Inés de Collahuasi SMC Developed data management systems in support of development of the conceptual model, the numerical model, and pre- and post-processing of model results. Designed and constructed a groundwater flow model to support dewatering operations and predict the environmental impacts associated with a large, open-pit mine in a complex mountain aquifer system [NORTHERN CHILE]

GIS and Database Development & Application• Various Sites • Various Clients Developed GIS inventories for wells, infrastructure, water use, land use, and other related features; developed geodatabases and relational databases for project data management and sharing; prepared cartographically correct maps and figures; and used ArcGIS applications to construct and evaluate three-dimensional geologic models for many hydrogeologic investigations and modeling projects. [U.S., MEXICO, CHILE, PERU, ARGENTINA, BOLIVIA]

Publications & Presentations

Development of conceptual plan for direct recovery of Central Arizona Project water stored at Tonopah Desert Recharge Project, Maricopa County, Arizona Meyer, J.J., Cross, M.M., Schorr, S.W., Shipman, T.D., and Fuerst, D., 2009, National Groundwater Association 2009 Groundwater Summit, Tucson, AZ, April 19–23

Hydrogeologic conceptual model for the Collahuasi Mine area, Chile Thomasson, M.J., Schorr, S.W., Davis, L.A., Rosko, M.J., Acosta, O.J., 2010, Water in Mining, Second International Congress on Water Management in the Mining Industry, Santiago, Chile, June 9–11

Modeling Codes & Software

MS Access MODFLOW HEC-RAS Leapfrog Hydro Leapfrog Geo Groundwater Vistas ArcView ArcGIS Spatial Analyst 3D Analyst

Additional Training

2015: Introduction to MineSight

2013: MODFLOW-USG workshop

2012: Fundamental and Advanced Techniques of Leapfrog Hydro

2010: Advanced Techniques for Aquifer Test Analysis Featuring AQTESOLV

2010: Fundamentals of Leapfrog Hydro

2009: HEC-RAS 3-Day Short Course

2008: Advanced Techniques for Aquifer Test Analysis Featuring AQTESOLV

2008: Calibration, Uncertainty Analysis, and Optimization — A Seminar

on Groundwater Vistas

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Documents

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