Outreach & Engagement

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

As part of developing the Sutter Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP), the Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) will inform and involve stakeholders, including interested and affected individuals and organizations and the public, on an ongoing basis.

Public Involvement in SGMA

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires that each Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) encourage the active involvement of diverse social, cultural, and economic elements of the population within the groundwater basin. To do so, SGMA sets out numerous public notice requirements for both local GSAs and the State. These requirements include:

Public notice and hearing before establishing a GSA, adopting or amending a GSP, or imposing or increasing a fee
Creation and use of an interested persons list for the subbasin or GSA
Participation of federally recognized Tribal Governments sharing the interest of the sustainability of the groundwater agency
Development of a written statement describing the manner in which interested parties may participate in the development and implementation of the GSP though a Communication & Engagement Plan (C&E Plan)

Communication & Engagement Plan Cover Page

Communication & Engagement Plan (C&E Plan)

In addition, SGMA requires that GSAs consider the interests of all beneficial uses and users of groundwater in the subbasin throughout the GSP development process.

Levels of Engagement

Public Involvement in the Sutter Subbasin

A description of the various groups involved in developing the GSP is given below.

Sutter Subbasin Groundwater Management Coordination Committee (SSGMCC) —The SSGMCC is comprised of voting representatives from each of the nine GSAs within the Subbasin along with non-voting representatives from non-GSA entities contributing to the development of the GSP. The SSGMCC generally follows a consensus-based decision-making structure where each representative receives an equal voice; however, voting members provide the final decision-making structure and generally follows a simple majority vote process.

Subbasin stakeholders will be able to receive regular updates and provide input at regularly scheduled Sutter Subbasin Groundwater Management Coordination Committee meetings.

GSA Boards — are the designated decision-making entity for the GSP process. Only applicable Board meetings will be noticed on the website which includes the adoption of the Final GSP.

Stakeholders including Interested Parties and Members of the Public —Public outreach and engagement will consist primarily of open meetings of the SSGMCC, information and updates to the project website, and public workshops held at important stages of the groundwater sustainability planning process. To find out about upcoming public workshops, visit the meetings link here.

Sutter Subbasin GSP Stakeholders

Pursuant to Section 10723.2 of the California Water Code, each GSA must consider the interests of all beneficial users and users of groundwater within the Subbasin, as well as those responsible for implementing GSPs. These interests include the following:

Agricultural users (farmers, ranchers, dairy professionals)
Rural, Ag-Residential and Domestic well owners
Municipal well operators
Public water systems
Local land use planning agencies
Environmental users of groundwater
Surface water users
The federal government (not limited to the military and managers of federal lands)
Tribal Governments
Disadvantaged communities
Entities monitoring or reporting groundwater elevations in the subbasin
Holders of overlying groundwater rights
Adjacent Subbasins

For specific questions about the GSA in your region, visit the Contact Page.

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