The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
(SGMA) of 2014 requires local and regional agencies to
develop and implement Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs).
These plans are detailed roadmaps for how groundwater basins will
reach long term sustainability to ensure these valuable resources
are available when we need them.
Groundwater from the Livermore Valley basin is used for
agricultural, municipal, industrial, domestic, and other supply
purposes. Supply wells are distributed throughout the basin with
the major municipal wells in the Main Basin.
Agricultural pumping has decreased significantly since 1974 when
imported surface water became available to many irrigation
customers. Municipal wells now account for most of the pumping.
Municipal pumping by retailers is contractually limited to a
groundwater pumping quota (GPQ).
Zone 7 pumps only groundwater that has been stored in the basin
as part of its artificial recharge program – which means we only
take out what we have put in. Zone 7 pumping is for municipal
purposes, salt management, demand peaks, and any shortage or
interruption in its surface water supply or treatment.
To keep track of basin conditions, we have the following
monitoring programs:
- Groundwater elevations
- Groundwater quality including salt, nitrate, boron, chromium,
and PFAS
- Land surface elevations
- Streams program – Streamflow
- Climatological program – Rainfall and evaporation
- Land use – Water usage and source of water (recycled water,
groundwater, municipal)
- Wastewater and recycled water use
- Mining area activities
Zone 7 uses the results of these monitoring programs to perform
the following management actions:
- Importing, artificially recharging, and banking surface water
to meet future demands (See our page on Banking for Non-Rainy Days)
- Maximizes the use of storage capacity of the groundwater
basin, including long-term implementation of the Chain of Lakes
Program (See Chain of Lakes Case Study)
- Managing groundwater pumping for sustainability
- Maintaining sustainable long-term groundwater storage volumes
with natural and imported supplies
- Promoting sound recycled water use
- Identifying and planning for future supply needs and demand
impacts
- Groundwater quality (PFAS, Toxics, Salt Management, Nutrient
Management Plans)
Livermore Valley Groundwater Basin
For an analysis of groundwater basin conditions, visit the
DWR
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) website.
Groundwater Management & Sustainability Plan
In 2005, the Agency adopted a Groundwater Management Plan (GWMP),
which documented ongoing policies and programs for managing
groundwater to support existing and beneficial uses in the
valley. This was amended in June 2015 with the adoption of the
Nutrient Management Plan. Zone 7 also prepares annual reports of
the groundwater basin that summarizes the basin conditions over
the water year (from October to September).
Through these and other programs, Zone 7 has sustainably managed
the basin to avoid undesirable results for at least 21 years
since the 2005 adoption of the GWMP.
2022 Update to the Groundwater Sustainability Plan
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has designated the Zone 7
Water Agency basin as a high- and medium-priority basin, where a
plan is due by January 31, 2022.
Zone 7 has compiled a grant application to prepare for the 2022
update.
