At this time, it is the intent of the parties participating in the development of the East County Groundwater Sustainability Agency to share costs equally among its members. The amount of cost to be shared, and the extent to which in-kind contribution of staff time may address cost-sharing responsibilities, is not known at this time but will be known before final action is taken to join the East County Groundwater Sustainability Agency.

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 (SGMA) establishes a Statewide comprehensive groundwater management program with the goal of achieving sustainable groundwater basins over the next 20 years. It is the policy of the state that groundwater resources be managed sustainably for long-term reliability and multiple economic, social, and environmental benefits for current and future beneficial uses. Sustainable groundwater management is best achieved locally through the development, implementation, and updating of plans and programs based on the best available science (Section 113 Water Code).  
  
SGMA requires all high-priority and medium-priority groundwater basins, as designated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), be managed by a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA). A local public agency, or combination of local public agencies overlying a designated basin, may become a GSA if the agency(ies) has(ve) water supply, water management, or land use responsibilities within a groundwater basin. A combination of local public agencies may form a GSA by way of Joint Excercise of Powers Agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding, or other legal document. SGMA provides that if no public agency becomes the GSA for a portion of the underlying basin, the County becomes the GSA by default unless it takes action to decline the responsibility in which case the State would regulate.  
  
The SGMA sets deadlines for the formation of GSAs and the adoption of Groundwater Sustainably Plan (GSPs) which, if not met, will allow for State intervention. By June 2017, all high-priority or medium-priority groundwater basins are required to have a single GSA or multiple GSAs that cover the entire basin. All high-priority or medium-priority groundwater basins must adopt a single GSP or a coordinated set of GSPs by January 31, 2022.  
  
There are portions of three medium-priority groundwater basins located in Contra Costa County, namely: the northern portion of the Eastbay Plain Subbasin (west county), the northern portion of the Livermore Valley Subbasin (south-central county), and the northwestern portion of the Tracy Subbasin (east county). Today's recommendation is only for participation in the Tracy Subbasin. Staff have also been working with other agencies on how to address SGMA requirements for these other basins and will report to the Board on theses issues in the future.  
  
The County has been collaborating with several local agencies that are located in the portion of the Tracy Subbasin that lies within Contra Costa County. The agencies are Byron-Bethany Irrigation District, Cities of Antioch and Brentwood, Contra Costa Water District, Diablo Water District, East Contra Costa Irrigation District and the Town of Discovery Bay. The aforementioned agencies, including the County, will cover Contra Costa County’s portion of the Tracy Subbasin.  
  
The Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee recommends the Board declare its intent for the County to become a member of the East County Groundwater Sustainably Agency for the portion of the Tracy Subbasin within Contra Costa County.  
  
With the Board declaring intent, staff will continue to participate in the formation of this GSA with the named seven local agencies.

Not declaring the Board’s intent for the County to become a member of the Groundwater Sustainability Agency will not allow the County to participate in the development of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan or in regulating and managing groundwater resources in the portion of the Tracy Subbasin within the County.