proposal full view · 2020-05-27 · madera county is an active groundwater sustainability agency...

Proposal Full View

Applicant InformationOrganization Name* County of MaderaPoint Of Contact First Name:* Stephanie Last Name:* Anagnoson

Email:* [email protected]

Division Name: Department of Water and Natural Resources Phone:* (559) 6757703 Ext:2265

Address Line 1:* 200 W. Fourth Street Address Line 2:City:* Madera State:* CaliforniaZip:* 93637

Point Of Contact Position Title* Director of Water and Natural ResourcesProposal Name* Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Inventory and Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation Project

Proposal Objective*

The overall goal of this project is to achieve better mapping, understanding and characterization of domestic well reliance on groundwater in the Chowchilla Subbasin. The specific goal of this project is to support drinking water access for DACs by inventorying domestic wells to support development of the Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Mitigation Program to mitigate undesirable results affecting domestic wells due to GSP Implementation. This program is outlined in Appendix 3.D. of the Chowchilla Subbasin GSP. Discussions with DAC representatives and meetings of the Domestic Well Ad Hoc for the Advisory Committee for the Madera County GSAs have identified the need for a domestic well inventory and additional groundwater monitoring wells to support implementation of the GSP and to achieve groundwater sustainability within the Chowchilla Subbasin by 2040.

Budget InformationOther Contribution $0.00Local Contribution $0.00Federal Contribution $0.00Inkind Contribution $0.00Amount Requested* $500,000.00Total Proposal Cost* $500,000.00

Geographic InformationLatitude* DD(+/-): 37 MM: 4 SS: 3Longitude* DD(+/-): -120 MM: 20 SS: 30Longitude/Latitude Clarification Geographic center of Chowchilla SubbasinLocation Madera CountyCounty* Madera Ground Water Basin 5-022.05 San Joaquin Valley-Chowchilla Hydrologic Region San Joaquin Watershed San Joaquin Valley Floor

Legislative InformationAssembly District* 5th Assembly District Senate District* 8th Senate District US Congressional District* District 16 (CA)

Project Information

Project Name: Project Component 1: Grant Agreement Administration for the Chowchilla SubbasinImplementing Organization Madera County Water and Natural ResourcesSecondary Implementing Organization Madera County

Proposed Start Date 4/1/2020Proposed End Date 10/31/2022

Scope Of WorkThis project will involve the management and administration of the grant funding and include (1) The creation of an amendment to the Chowchilla Subbasin’s existing SGWP grant agreement. (2) Development and submittal of quarterly reimbursement request packages. (3) Development and submittal of quarterly progress reports. (4) Development and submittal of final proposal report.

Project Description

Creation of an amendment to the Chowchilla Subbasin’s existing grant agreement with DWR for management of their Sustainable Groundwater Planning grant agreement. This component will provide continued grant administration once the existing funding agreement has been amended to reflect the addition of this grant's proposed work plan, and the associated budget and schedule, to account for the schedule extension and additional progress reports and invoicing packages required for Project Components 2 and 3.

Project Objective

The objective of this project component is to create an amendment to the Chowchilla Subbasin’s existing grant agreement with DWR for management of their Sustainable Groundwater Planning grant. This component will provide for continued grant administration once the existing funding agreement has been amended to reflect the addition of this proposed work plan, and the associated budget and schedule, to account for the schedule extension and additional progress reports and invoicing packages.

Project Benefits InformationNo records found.

Budget InformationOther Contribution $0.00Local Contribution $0.00Federal Contribution $0.00Inkind Contribution $0.00Amount Requested* $50,000.00Total Project Cost* $50,000.00

Geographic InformationLatitude* DD(+/-): 37 MM: 4 SS: 3Longitude* DD(+/-): -120 MM: 20 SS: 30Longitude/Latitude Clarification Chowchilla Subbasin geographic centerLocation Madera CountyCounty* MaderaGround Water Basin 5-022.05 San Joaquin Valley-ChowchillaHydrologic Region San JoaquinWatershed San Joaquin Valley Floor

Legislative InformationAssembly District* 5th Assembly DistrictSenate District* 8th Senate DistrictUS Congressional District* District 16 (CA)

Project Name: Project Component 2: Domestic Well Inventory & Analysis for the Chowchilla SubbasinImplementing Organization Madera County Water and Natural ResourcesSecondary Implementing Organization Madera County


Scope Of WorkConduct a detailed well inventory of domestic (residential) wells within the Chowchilla Subbasin to improve overall understanding of regional groundwater pumping and groundwater characteristics as well as identify vulnerabilities.

Project Description Data on the quantity, location, and important details of domestic wells in the Chowchilla subbasin (necessary to conduct any potential mitigation efforts) is currently incomplete and conditions are poorly understood. This project component will conduct detailed inventory of domestic (residential) wells that will improve overall understanding of regional groundwater pumping and groundwater characteristics as well as identify vulnerabilities within the Chowchilla Subbasin. The component will proceed as follows: (1) The well inventory will begin with a search of Madera County assessor records to create a list of all residential properties in the Subbasin that likely have domestic wells. (2) The assessor records list will be compared to

lists of properties on public and private (mutual) water systems as well as properties already included in DWR’s Well Completion Report database in order to identify gaps where residences exist and may have a well, but who are not on public or private system(s) and have not been identified within DWR’s well completion reports. (3) The existence of wells on these properties will be confirmed through stakeholder outreach, including the possible use of mailers or workshops if necessary, and coordination with stakeholder agencies. Outreach efforts will focus on assuring proactive communications and aid with developing a mitigation program for potentially impacted domestic wells. (4) Identified residential wells will be mapped in relation to the GSP modeling results to understand where potential ‘hot-spot’ areas requiring mitigation that may exist within the Chowchilla Subbasin.

Project ObjectiveObjectives of the second project component include creation of a domestic well database, spreadsheet, and graphics/maps of identified domestic wells in the Chowchilla Subbasin. The spreadsheet of domestic wells in Subbasin will also include information covering available water quality data and provide information for the location of future groundwater monitoring wells (see Project Component 3).



Geographic InformationLatitude* DD(+/-): 37 MM: 4 SS: 3Longitude* DD(+/-): -120 MM: 20 SS: 30Longitude/Latitude Clarification Geographic center of Chowchilla SubbasinLocation Madera CountymCounty* MaderaGround Water Basin 5-022.05 San Joaquin Valley-ChowchillaHydrologic Region San JoaquinWatershed San Joaquin Valley Floor


Project Name: Project Component 3: Groundwater Monitoring Wells Construction for the Chowchilla SubbasinImplementing Organization Madera County Water and Natural ResourcesSecondary Implementing Organization Madera County


Scope Of WorkBased on the mapping and conditions data collected from the domestic well inventory in Component 2, Component 3 will construct up to 3 groundwater monitoring wells in the Chowchilla Subbasin, including obtaining easements and permits, well construction, installation of well instrumentation, sampling of water quality, and collection of other data necessary for monitoring the impacts of domestic wells in the subbasin.

Project Description Project Component 3 will install up to three (3) Groundwater Monitoring Wells in the Chowchilla Subbasin to support the long-term monitoring of groundwater sustainability from residential wells that were identified in the inventory conducted in Component 2 of the project. The work plan and scope of work includes (1) planning of well sites and construction. (2) Conducting well site evaluations and obtaining easements where required. (3) Conducting and obtaining all necessary well and environmental permits. (4) Construction of three nested groundwater monitoring wells at the identified site within the subbasin. (5) Installation of all necessary monitoring and water quality instrumentation in the wells. (6) Conducting groundwater sampling and other water quality monitoring. It is planned that the construction and use of the monitoring wells will help further refine the hydrogeologic conceptualization of the Chowchilla Subbasin and provide facilities for

long-term monitoring of groundwater conditions and overall groundwater sustainability among residential wells within the subbasin for the benefit of DACs, SDACs, and EDA regions.

Project Objective

Component 3 objectives cover aspects related to the construction of the monitoring wells in the Madera Subbasin, including obtaining property easements, obtaining necessary permits, evaluation of well sites, drilling of test holes, construction of up to three (3) sets of nested groundwater monitoring wells at specific locations, as well as the installation and use of instrumentation for continued assessment and monitoring of groundwater conditions and sustainability in the Madera Subbasin.



Geographic InformationLatitude* DD(+/-): 37 MM: 4 SS: 29Longitude* DD(+/-): -120 MM: 18 SS: 21Longitude/Latitude Clarification Geographic center of Chowchilla SubbasinLocation Madera CountyCounty* MaderaGround Water Basin 5-022.05 San Joaquin Valley-ChowchillaHydrologic Region San JoaquinWatershed San Joaquin Valley Floor


Section : Questions

Q1. Project Description:

Provide a brief abstract of the proposal. This abstract must provide an overview of the proposal including the main issues and priorities addressed in the proposal. (25 words or less)*Modify the existing grant agreement with DWR to conduct an inventory of domestic wells and construction of three new monitoring wells to improve understanding of regional groundwater pumping and identify vulnerabilities in the Chowchilla Subbasin.

Q2. Previous Funding:

Has the applicant received prior funding through the Proposition 1 SGWP Round 2 grant?*

a) Yes

b) No

If so, how much funds did the applicant receive?

$2,500,000.00

Q3. Project Representative:

Provide the name and details of the person responsible for signing and executing the grant agreement for the applicant. Persons that are subcontractors to be paid by the grant cannot be listed as the Project Representative. Other entities included in the GSA can be listed here.*Eric Fleming Madera County CAO 200 W. Fourth Street, Madera, CA 93637 559-675-7703

Q4. Project Manager:

Provide the name, title, and contact information of the Project Manager from the applicant agency or organization that will be the day-to-day contact on this application.*Stephanie Anagnoson Madera County Director of Water & Natural Resources 200 W. Fourth Street, Madera, CA 93637 559-675-7703

Q5. Eligibility:

Has the applicant met the requirements of DWR’s CASGEM Program?*

a) Yes

b) No

Q6.1. Eligibility:

Is the applicant an agricultural water supplier?*

a) Yes

b) No

Q6.1.a Eligibility:

If yes, has the applicant submitted a complete Agricultural Water Management Plan (AWMP) to DWR?

a) Yes

b) No

Q6.1.b Eligibility:

If yes, has the AWMP been verified as complete by DWR?

a) Yes

b) No

Q6.1.c Eligibility:

If the AWMP has not been submitted, explain and provide the anticipated submittal date. Not Applicable.

Q7.1. Eligibility:

Is the applicant an urban water supplier?*

a) Yes

b) No

Q7.1.a Eligibility:

If yes, has the applicant submitted a complete Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) to DWR?

a) Yes

b) No

Q7.1.b Eligibility:

If yes, has the UWMP been verified as complete by DWR?

a) Yes

b) No

Q7.1.c Eligibility:

If the UWMP has not been submitted, explain and provide the anticipated date for submittal.Not Applicable.

Q8.1 Eligibility:

Is the applicant a surface water diverter?*

a) Yes

b) No

Q8.1.a Eligibility:

If yes, has the applicant submitted to the SWRCB their surface water diversion reports in compliance with requirements outlined in Part 5.1 (commencing with §5100) of Division 2 of the Water Code?

a) Yes

b) No

Q8.1.b Eligibility:

If the reports have not been submitted, explain and provide the anticipated date for meeting the requirements.Not Applicable.

Q9. Eligibility:

Does the proposal include any of the following activities:

1.) The potential to adversely impact a wild and scenic river or any river afforded protection under the California or Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act2.) Acquisition of land through eminent domain3.) Design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of Delta conveyance facilities4.) Acquisition of water except for projects that will provide fisheries or ecosystem benefits or improvements that are greater than required currently applicable environmental mitigation measures or compliance obligations5.) Pay any share of the costs of remediation recovered from parties responsible for the contamination of a groundwater storage aquifer6.) Projects or groundwater planning activities associated with adjudicated groundwater basins.

If yes, the project is not eligible for grant funding.*

a) Yes (not eligible for grant funding)

b) No

Q10. Eligibility: Consistency with California SB 985– Stormwater Resource Planning Act:

To satisfy SB 985 requirements, stormwater and dry weather capture project must be listed in a SWRP that is consistent with the relevant code provisions enacted by SB 985 (Water Code §10562 (b)(7)) as determined by the SWRCB.

a) This Project is Consistent

Q11. DA Cost Share Waiver or Reduction:

Are you applying for cost share waiver or reduction as a DA? Fill out Attachment 6 – DAC, SDAC, and/or EDA, as appropriate.*

a) Yes; See Attachment 6

b) No

Q12. Certification:

By submitting the application, the Project Director is certifying that: a) The applicant is an eligible entity; b) He/She is aware that any attachment exceeding the page limit listed in the attachment templates will not be reviewed; c) He/She is aware that, once the proposal is submitted in GRanTS, any privacy rights and other confidentiality protections offered by law with respect to the application package and project location are waived; and d) He/She has read and agrees to all of the Terms and Conditions of the grant agreement.*

a) Yes (Certified)

b) No

Section : Climate Risk in Investments

Climate Risk in Investment

Q13: Does the organization have a strategic business plan?

a) Yes

b) No

If Yes, please submit a copy.

Q14: Has the organization conducted a climate change vulnerability assessment?

a) Yes

b) No

If Yes, please submit a copy.Last Uploaded Attachments: SGM_Climate Change Assmt_Madera Cty_1of1.pdf

Q15: Does the organization have a main contact person for climate change?

a) Yes

b) No

If Yes, to what position in the origination does that person report?

Q16: Has the organization considered the risk of climate change in its capital reserves and investments? (Open ended; one-three paragraphs, with specific examples, should suffice).The County of Madera has not directly allocated reserves or made investments directly for climate change as a single item. For example, there are no line-items or allocations within specific county department budgets specifically to address climate change as a general item. However, the County has allocated funding for various projects and programs that address known effects of climate change, most notably the tree mortality crisis found within the foothill and mountain areas in the eastern part of the county.

The Madera County Sheriff’s Department maintains a budget component for tree mortality that was established in Fiscal Year 2016-17 to implement a tree removal plan after then-Governor Brown granted Counties with California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) funding to address tree mortality. Under this program, Madera County applied for and was granted funding for tree removal in its foothill and mountain that will be performed by professionals. In the FY 2019-2020 budget, the tree mortality costs break down as follows:

(1) State Disaster Relief: A grant award of $2,255,700 was recommended based on the projected reimbursements from the California Office of Emergency Services for tree mortality operations for the County’s FY 2019-2020 budget. (2) County General Fund: $563,925 from the Madera County General Fund was recommended in 2019-20 as the required 25% County match for the Tree Mortality Disaster Assistance Funding. (3) Temporary Salaries: An additional $81,900 was also recommended established to pay for tree removal services in the 2019-20 budget.

Section : Attachments

Attachment 1:Authorizing Documentation (e.g. resolution)

Upload Authorizing Documentation here. The Attachment is mandatory.*Last Uploaded Attachments: Att1_SGM_AuthDoc_1of1.PDF

Attachment 2: Eligibility Applicant Documentation

Upload Eligibility Applicant Documentation here. The attachment is mandatory.*Last Uploaded Attachments: Att2_SGM_EligDoc_1of1.pdf

Attachment 3: Work Plan

Upload Work Plan here. (Applicant MUST use supplied template) The attachment is mandatory.*Last Uploaded Attachments: Att3_SGM_WrkPlan_1of1.pdf

Attachment 4: Budget

Upload Budget here. (Applicant MUST use supplied template) The attachment is mandatory.*Last Uploaded Attachments: Att4_SGM_Budget_1of1.pdf

Attachment 5: Schedule

Upload Schedule here. (Applicant MUST use supplied template) The attachment is mandatory.*Last Uploaded Attachments: Att5_SGM_Schedule_1of1.pdf

Attachment 6: SDAC, DAC, and/or EDA

Upload SDAC, DAC, and/or EDA (as applicable) here.Last Uploaded Attachments: Att6_SGM_SDAC-DAC-EDA_1of1.pdf

BEFORETHE BOARD OF SUPERVISORSOF THE COUNTY OF MADERA

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

In the Matter of

CHOWCHILLA SUBBASINDOMESTIC WELL INVENTORY ANDGROUNDWATER MONITORINGWELL INSTALLATION PROJECT

_______________________________

))))))))

Resolution No.: 2019 -

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AGRANT APPLICATION FOR THEMADERA COUNTY WATER ANDNATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

WHEREAS, the Madera County Water and Natural Resources Department

(“Department”) proposes to implement the Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Inventory and

Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation Project;and

WHEREAS, the Department intends to apply for grant funding from the California

Department of Water Resources under the Proposition 68, Sustainable Groundwater

Management (“SGM”) Grant Program for the project costs.

THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors for the County of

Madera as follows:

1. That the grant application be made to the SGM Grant Program Planning –Round

3 Grant - pursuant to the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014

(Proposal 1) (Water Code section 79700, et seq.) and/or the California Drought, Water, Parks,

Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) (Public

Resources Code, §80000 et seq.), and to enter into an agreement to receive a grant for the:

Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Inventory and Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation

Project.

2. The Department Director, or her designee, is hereby authorized and directed to

prepare the necessary data, conduct investigations, file such application, and execute a grant

agreement with California Department of Water Resources.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The foregoing Resolution was adopted this _______ day of _______________,

2019, by the following vote:

Supervisor Frazier voted: ________

Supervisor Rogers voted: ________

Supervisor Poythress voted: ________

Supervisor Rodriguez voted: ________

Supervisor Wheeler voted: ________

_____________________________ Chairman, Board of Supervisors

ATTEST: ___________________________ Clerk, Board of Supervisors Approved as to Legal Form: COUNTY COUNSEL By ________________________

2

mcantoriano

Stamp

MADERA SUBBASIN DOMESTIC WELL INVENTORY AND ATTACHMENT 2 GROUNDWATER MONITORING WELL INSTALLATION PROJECT ELIGIBILITY DOCUMENTATION

Sustainable Groundwater Management (SGM) Grant Program Attachment 3: Page 1 of 3 SGM Planning – Round 3 Proposal Solicitation Package

ATTACHMENT 2 ELIGIBILITY DOCUMENTATION

Grant Proposal Title:

Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Inventory and Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation Project

Applicant: County of Madera

• Is the applicant a GSA, a member agency of a GSA, or a member agency of an approved Alternative to a GSP? Please explain. If the applicant is in the process of forming a GSA, the steps taken and the steps remaining to do so should be identified. The County of Madera is the exclusive GSA for the portion of the Madera and the Chowchilla Subbasin in the unincorporated area of the County, and not otherwise covered by another public agency. The following is a link to the draft GSP for the Madera Subbasin:

SGMA GSP – Madera Subbasin:

https://www.maderacountywater.com/madera-subbasin/

• Agricultural Water Management Compliance Not applicable. However, the Madera IRWMP includes sections on Agricultural Water Use Efficiency and Efficient Water Management Practices (EWMP).

• CASGEM Basin Prioritization and Compliance Since 2011, several of the RWMG members have been collaborating on an area-wide groundwater monitoring program known as the California State Groundwater Elevation Monitoring program, or CASGEM. The program is a solid start toward developing a more regional knowledge of groundwater conditions and has already generated useful data for the participating agencies.

There is, however, a need for greater data precision and integration as the RWMG moves toward management of the groundwater aquifer throughout the region. Semi-annual well monitoring will enhance the understanding of aquifer variations resulting from rainfall and irrigation pumping throughout the year. Integrating data on a per-aquifer and sub-regional basis will aid in creating specific sustainability parameters in each area of the RWMG’s boundaries in a manner that is most equitable for all stakeholders. The regional monitoring program could be expanded to include additional agencies and monitoring entities. An image evidencing Madera County’s CASGEM compliance has been copied in the image below and included at the end of this document:

• Climate Change Climate change can make it more difficult for communities to provide drinking water and wastewater services, protect water quality, and maintain healthy aquatic environments.

Also, climate change can have a profound impact on our water resources; by collecting and evaluating our groundwater data from these monitoring wells, this will be an essential step toward improving management of our groundwater resources.

As stated in the Climate Change in Investments tab on the application form, the County of Madera has allocated funding for projects and programs that address known effects of climate change, most notably the tree mortality crisis found within the foothill and mountain areas in the eastern part of the county. The Madera County Sheriff’s Department maintains a budget component for tree mortality that was established in Fiscal Year 2016-17 to implement a tree removal plan. Governor Brown granted Counties with California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) funding to address Tree Mortality. Madera County applied for and was granted funding for tree removal in its foothill and mountain that will be performed by professionals. In the FY 2019-2020 budget, the tree mortality costs break down as follows:

https://www.maderacountywater.com/madera-subbasin/



1) State Disaster Relief: A grant award of $2,255,700 was recommended based on the projected reimbursements from the California Office of Emergency Services for tree mortality operations for the County’s FY 2019-2020 budget.

2) County General Fund: $563,925 from the Madera County General Fund was recommended in 2019-20 as the required 25% County match for the Tree Mortality Disaster Assistance Funding.

3) Temporary Salaries: An additional $81,900 was also recommended established to pay for tree removal services in the 2019-20 budget.

• Consistency with the Delta Plan Not applicable.

• Groundwater Management Compliance The Madera Regional Groundwater Management Plan was completed/signed on December 9, 2014 and submitted to the Department of Water Resources in December of 2014. Below is a link to the plan:

Madera Regional Groundwater Management Plan: https://www.maderacounty.com/Home/ShowDocument?id=2880

• Open and Transparent Water Data The County of Madera will continue to hold outreach meetings, have a GSA Advisory Committee, and maintain the Madera County Water website to continue the dissemination of information, results of studies, and all other data as the continuation of our procedure developed for data sharing, transparency, documentation, and quality control.

• Public Utilities and Mutual Water Companies We are not a Public Utility or Mutual Water Company

• SWRP Compliance (California SB 985) The County of Madera Storm Water Resource Plan was completed December 28, 2017. It was submitted as Appendix B to the Madera Integrated Regional Water Management Plan Proposition 1 Plan Update in May of 2019. Below is a link to the plan:

Madera County Stormwater Resource Plan:

https://www.maderacountywater.com/flood-control-and-water-conservation-agency/

• Surface Water Diverter Compliance Not applicable. The County of Madera is not a surface water diverter.

• Sustainable Water Use and Demand Reduction Not applicable.

• Urban Water Management Compliance Not applicable.

• Water Metering Compliance Not applicable.

https://www.maderacounty.com/Home/ShowDocument?id=2880

https://www.maderacountywater.com/flood-control-and-water-conservation-agency/



Copy of Well Elevation Data, evidencing CASGEM compliance for both the Madera and Chowchilla Subbasins:

CHOWCHILLA SUBBASIN DOMESTIC WELL INVENTORY AND ATTACHMENT 3 GROUNDWATER MONITORING WELL INSTALLATION PROJECT WORK PLAN


ATTACHMENT 3 WORK PLAN

Grant Proposal Title:


Applicant: County of Madera PROJECT JUSTIFICATION

A. Project Description (maximum of 6 points possible) Provide a proposed project description that addresses the requested information identified below.

1. (2 points) The Project Description must include the following: • A complete, detailed description of the overall proposed project including the goals,

objectives, needs of the proposed project, and tools to be developed, if any. If there are multiple components within the proposed project, please briefly describe each of them and how they relate to one another. Explain how the multiple components work together as a whole proposed project to address the goals, objectives, and needs of the proposed project.

The overall goal of this project is to achieve better mapping, understanding and characterization of domestic well reliance on groundwater in the Chowchilla Subbasin. The specific goal of this project is to support drinking water access for DAs by inventorying domestic wells to support development of the Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Mitigation Program to mitigate undesirable results affecting domestic wells due to GSP Implementation. This program is outlined in Appendix 3.D. of the Chowchilla Subbasin GSP. Discussions with DAC representatives and meetings of the Domestic Well Ad Hoc for the Advisory Committee for the Madera County GSAs have identified the need for a well inventory and additional groundwater monitoring wells to support planning and implementation of the Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Mitigation Program.

o Include the name of the respective implementing agency/organization for each component. Additionally, discuss how the project will address a current need of the basin in relation to sustainable groundwater management.

The Chowchilla Subbasin has been designated as critically overdrafted by DWR, and will have an adopted GSP submitted by January 2020. Large portions of the Subbasin are comprised of EDA, DAC, and SDAC areas that rely on groundwater for drinking water supplies and are experiencing significant groundwater challenges. This work plan was developed in consultation with the Chowchilla Subbasin Advisory Committee technical representatives, which represents the GSPs in the Subbasin. The primary objective of the work plan is for the GSAs in the Subbasin to implement projects and management actions necessary to achieve sustainable groundwater conditions by 2040. The proposed work plan consists of three main components to be implemented by the Madera County GSA on behalf of the Chowchilla Subbasin GSAs, including:

1) Component 1 – Grant Agreement Administration: Grant Administration for the Project, which could be handled with an amendment to the Chowchilla Subbasin’s existing grant agreement with DWR for management of their Sustainable Groundwater Planning grant agreement.

2) Component 2 – Domestic Well Inventory: Conduct a detailed well inventory of domestic (residential) wells to improve overall understanding of regional groundwater pumping and groundwater characteristics as well as identify domestic well vulnerability within the Chowchilla Subbasin.



3) Component 3 – Groundwater Monitoring Wells: Install groundwater monitoring wells in the Chowchilla Subbasin at select key locations to better characterize groundwater conditions near areas of highest domestic well concern and provide ongoing monitoring sites for inclusion in the GSP monitoring network.

Component 1, if desired by DWR, would consist of an amendment to the Chowchilla Subbasin’s existing grant agreement with DWR for management of their Sustainable Groundwater Planning grant agreement. This will allow for continued grant administration once the existing funding agreement has been amended to reflect the addition of the Round 3 grant work plan. The project budget and schedule could be updated to account for the inclusion of project Components 2 and 3 and associated additional progress reports and invoicing packages necessary.

Component 2 of the Round 3 project would consist of an inventory of existing domestic wells throughout the GSAs in the Chowchilla Subbasin to support the development of the Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Mitigation program (described in Appendix 3.D. of the Chowchilla Subbasin GSP). This is a critical need that has been identified both in meetings of the Domestic Well Ad Hoc for the Advisory County for the Madera County GSAs as well in individual meetings with DAC representatives. This work will be done via a comparison of Madera County Assessor records for residences within the subbasin to lists of properties on public and private (mutual) water systems. The list of residences not on a public or private water system will be compared to the County’s list for residential wells and to DWR’s Well Completion Report database. This will identify areas where residences exist and may have a well, but are not on public or private system(s), and have not been identified through DWR’s Well Completion Reports. This process will also identify any areas where the inaccuracies associated with the available information in DWR’s Well Completion Report database may incorrectly suggest the presence or absence of domestic wells. Community outreach will confirm the existence of wells and identified wells will be mapped in relation to the GSP modeling results to understand where areas with high densities of domestic wells exist. Outreach efforts will focus on these key areas to assure proactive communications, and to aid with developing a mitigation program for potentially impacted domestic wells.

Component 3 of the Round 3 project will consist of the installation of new groundwater monitoring wells at depths needed to monitor and analyze vulnerability to lowering water levels and water quality of the domestic wells identified in Component 2 of the project. Wells will be used for monitoring groundwater levels and groundwater quality within the Chowchilla Subbasin. Component 3 includes a review of available data from previous work related to installation of monitoring wells from the Round 2 Category 1 project grant. Potential monitoring well sites will be evaluated based on siting considerations and construction feasibility. Property easements/access agreements will be obtained if required. A consultant will determine specific sites for installation of monitoring wells. Monitoring plans will be developed for each site. Environmental reporting requirements and other permitting will be filed. Monitoring wells will be drilled and a process for sampling, monitoring, and reporting data will be employed.

• A map for the proposed project that shows the geographical location, the service area, and the benefitting area; the basin(s) boundary(-ies) (per DWR Bulletin 118), the Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA)(s) boundary(-ies); DAs within the service area; and any other features that may apply. • Please see Figures 1, 2, and 3 below.



Figure 1. Chowchilla Subbasin GSAs.



Figure 2. Chowchilla Subbasin SDACs and DACs.



Figure 3. Chowchilla Subbasin EDAs



2. (4 points) The Project Description must also include: • A description of the coordination efforts for the entire basin and surrounding basins.

Four local agencies have formed GSAs covering the full extent of the Chowchilla Subbasin: Chowchilla Water District (CWD) GSA, Madera County (Madera Co) GSA, County of Merced Chowchilla GSA (Merced Co), and Triangle T Water District (TTWD) GSA. Chowchilla Water District, Madera County, Merced County, and Triangle T Water District are local agencies overlying the Chowchilla Subbasin as defined under SGMA and are therefore eligible to serve as separate GSAs within the Chowchilla Subbasin. Madera County and Merced County each serve as the GSA for all areas within their respective counties in the Chowchilla Subbasin that are outside the management area of other GSAs. These GSAs jointly formed the Chowchilla Subbasin GSP Advisory Committee in September 2017 through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and the Committee serves as the coordinating body for guiding the Chowchilla Subbasin GSAs through development of the Chowchilla Subbasin GSP. In this role, the Committee advises the GSAs’ governing bodies on GSP development, implementation, and public engagement consistent with each GSA’s policies. The aim of the Committee is to facilitate cooperation between GSAs to obtain and share costs related to consulting, administrative, and management services needed to efficiently develop a GSP, to conduct outreach to other basin agencies and private parties, and to identify mechanisms for the management and funding commitments reasonably anticipated to be necessary for the purposes of the MOU. The Committee members and staff include at least one representative of each GSA. Committee meetings are typically held monthly and are open to the public.

The Committee is chartered to review or provide recommendations to the GSAs’ governing bodies on the following topics:

• Development, adoption, or amendment of the GSP • Sustainability goals and objectives • Technical and reporting standards, including best management practices, data management and

reporting • Monitoring programs • Annual work plans and reports (including mandatory 5-year periodic evaluation reports) • Modeling scenarios • Inter-basin coordination activities • Project and management actions to achieve sustainability • Grant funding proposals • Community outreach and engagement • Local regulations to implement SGMA • Fee proposals • General Coordination in response to GSA inquiries

The Committee’s discussions and recommendations are relayed to GSA governing bodies through (1) reports on the consensus (or other outcomes) of Committee discussions provided by the Committee Secretary, and (2) individual reports prepared by Committee members to confirm areas of agreement.

Each GSA’s governing body members consider the Committee’s recommendations when making policy decisions for their individual GSAs. In the event that any GSA governing body disagrees with the Committee’s recommendations, that governing body is asked to provide explanation for its final decision to allow discussion and revisions to recommendations within the Committee or through the GSA Dispute Resolution process. Ultimately, GSA governing bodies have the authority to adopt and implement the GSP.

• A description of how well the multiple GSAs surrounding and within the basin are working together to complete a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the entire basin. If there are no other entities that the applicant is working with, explain why and justify the answer.

At this time, the Committee and Ad Hoc Work Groups coordinate GSP development for the four coordinating GSA member agencies. An intra-basin coordination agreement will be formed between these four coordinating GSAs and the three individual GSAs to comply with SGMA requirements that multiple GSPs developed by multiple GSAs within the same groundwater subbasin be coordinated



pursuant to a single coordination agreement. The seven GSAs used the same data and methodologies developed by Davids Engineering during 2017 and 2018.

The aim of the Committee and Technical Ad Hoc Work Groups, as defined by the Committee charter, is to provide a shared forum for the GSAs to review and discuss elements of GSP development as well as other projects, including this proposed SGM grant. Specifically, the Committee serves to identify elements of agreement or disagreement requiring more in-depth discussion among GSAs and makes recommendations for GSA governing bodies to consider in their decision-making process. In this process, the Committee aims to reach varying levels of consensus among the GSAs on all interim or final recommendations. Consensus is determined by Committee members’ voiced approval that is consistent with what the Committee members feel can be approved by their GSA governing bodies.

• If the applicant received funding in Round 2, please explain how the Round 3 funds will be used in comparison to the Round 2 funds.

Madera County was awarded a grant in the SGM Round 2 funding for a total of $2.5 million for the Chowchilla Subbasin to install groundwater monitoring wells for long-term monitoring of groundwater conditions and sustainability within the subbasin for the benefit of SDACs located therein and to prepare a GSP. Currently the GSPs for the Chowchilla Subbasin are in a public review period and will be revised with public comments in November, adopted in December and submitted to DWR in January 2020. Groundwater well installation will be complete by April 2020 and 65%are installed as of the end of October 2019.

o Provide justification for additional funds with no additional tasks in comparison with the current grant.

Additional tasks are specified for use of the additional funds—see below.

o Explain how the current grant will be completed regardless of additional funding from Round 3.

The draft GSP for the Chowchilla Subbasinhas been completed and is now available for public review via the Madera County website. About half of the monitoring wells proposed in the Round 2 project have been constructed to date, with more than half (50%) of these wells having been installed on Madera County Right of Ways along roads. It is anticipated that all work on the Round 2 project, including finalization of the GSP and completion of the monitoring wells, will be completed by April 2020.

o If additional tasks are being proposed, explain how these new tasks fit into the current agreement and are consistent with the current efforts.

The proposed Round 3 project is necessary in order to improve the information available on domestic wells. During the development of the GSP, it was determined that available information on domestic wells is incomplete and inaccurate. Thus, this proposed project is necessary to obtain information necessary to develop a mitigation program to address potential undesirable effects on domestic wells that may occur as a result of GSP implementation.

The proposed Round 3 consists of three Components that build on the earlier work accomplished with Round 2 funding, including the following:

1) Component 1, if desired by DWR, of the Round 3 project would consist of an amendment to the Chowchilla Subbasin’s existing grant agreement with DWR for management of their Sustainable Groundwater Planning grant agreement. This will allow for continued grant administration once the existing funding agreement has been amended to reflect the addition of the Round 3 grant work plan, as well as the associated budget and schedule, to account for the schedule extension and additional progress reports and invoicing packages required for inclusion of the work in the grant’s second and third components.

2) Component 2 of the Round 3 project would consist of an inventory of existing domestic wells throughout the GSAs in the Chowchilla Subbasin via a comparison of Madera County Assessor records with lists of properties on public and private (mutual) water systems and also properties with domestic wells already included in DWR’s well completion database. This should identify gaps where residences exist and may have a well, but are not on a public or private system, and have



not been identified within DWR’s well completion reports. Community outreach will confirm the existence of wells and identified wells will be mapped in relation to the GSP modeling results to understand where potential ‘hot-spot’ areas may exist. Outreach efforts will focus on these key areas to assure proactive communications, and to aid with developing a mitigation program for potentially impacted domestic wells.

3) Component 3 of the Round 3 project would consist of the installation of new groundwater monitoring wells at various depths within the Chowchilla Subbasin to monitor and analyze vulnerability of the domestic wells identified in Component 2 of the project. Component 3 includes a review of available data from previous work on monitoring wells from the Round 2 grant. Each potential monitoring well site will be evaluated based on siting and construction feasibility. Property easements/access agreements will be obtained if required. A consultant will determine specific sites for installation of monitoring wells. Monitoring plans will be developed for each site. Environmental reporting requirements and other permitting will be filed. Monitoring wells will be drilled and a process for sampling, monitoring, and reporting data remotely will be employed.

Conducting the domestic well inventory and construction of additional monitoring wells for observing zone-specific groundwater levels and obtaining water quality samples will help identify where potential ‘hot-spot’ areas may exist and aid with developing a mitigation program for potentially impacted domestic wells and ensure that the Chowchilla Subbasin will be operated within its sustainable yield by 2040, or 20 years following GSP implementation in January 2020.

o Provide significant justification for cost overruns for the Round 2 grant agreement and why these overruns have occurred.

Cost overruns have not been incurred and are not projected to occur on the implementation of Madera County’s Round 2 grant for the Chowchilla Subbasin. The project is actually coming in under budget at this time. Funds have been left in reserve to support additional public outreach if needed to support revisions that may result from public comments.

B. Project Benefits (maximum of 2 points possible) 3. (2 points) Identify the DAs and/or Tribes within the basin.

• Will a DA and/or Tribe benefit from the proposed project? More than 110,000 acres (75.6 percent) of the Chowchilla Subbasin are identified as DACs based on Census Block Group data, including more than 39,000 acres (27 percent) classified as SDACs. When the cumulative area for DACs based on Census Tract data and the Block Group data are considered, an additional 639 acres of area are classified as DAC. Furthermore, when Census Places are considered in addition to the Block Groups and Tracts, the total DAC area is calculated to be 115,246 acres, or 78.8 percent of the Subbasin; about 29.7 percent of the Subbasin is classified as SDAC based on the combined Census Block Group and Place data. A considerable fraction (76 percent) of the Chowchilla Subbasin is classified as an EDA. EDAs are areas identified as having the following characteristics: 1) a median household income (MHI) of less than 85 percent of the California statewide MHI, 2) population of less than 20,000 persons, and 3) unemployment rates at least 2 percent higher than the statewide average unemployment rate or population density of less than 100 persons per square mile. Of the approximately 146,325 total acres in the Chowchilla Subbasin, about 76 percent are within EDAs identified based on data from the US Census American Community Survey (ACS).

The areas within the subbasin identified as SDACs, DACs and EDAs are shown above in Figures 2 and 3. Additional data documenting the SDACs, DACs and EDAs in the Chowchilla Subbasin are displayed in Tables 1, 2, and 3 below. Further details are provided in Attachment 6 of this application.

• Identify SDAC(s) within the proposed project’s service area and describe how the SDAC(s) will directly benefit from and be served by implementation of the proposed project.

Some DAs in the Chowchilla Subbasin rely solely on groundwater for drinking water supply and have very limited financial resources, making them particularly sensitive to changes in groundwater levels and quality.



This project supports the development of a mitigation program with direct benefits DAs in the subbasin. Approximately 29.7 percent of the Subbasin is designated as part of an SDAC and 75.6 percent of the Subbasin is designated as part of a DAC.

The areas within the subbasin identified as SDACs, DACs and EDAs are shown above in Figures 2 and 3. Additional data documenting the SDACs, DACs and EDAs in the Chowchilla Subbasin are displayed in Tables 1, 2, and 3 below. Further details are provided in Attachment 6 of this application.

• Provide a list of benefits that the goals and objectives provide. These benefits must be measurable, quantifiable, and meaningful to the DA and/or Tribe.

The goal of this project is to support drinking water access for DAs in the Chowchilla Subbasin by inventorying domestic wells to support development of a program to mitigate undesirable results affecting domestic wells due to GSP Implementation. The domestic well inventory will quantify the number of domestic wells that exist in the Chowchilla Subbasin and identify and select key locations (hot-spots) for installation of additional groundwater monitoring wells for monitoring and analysis of groundwater levels and quality. Ultimately, these benefits are measurable and quantifiable in terms of the number of domestic wells mitigated for by the Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Mitigation Program.

• Provide letters of support from these communities or representatives from these communities to obtain the points, per Section E. of this template, unless justification for the lack of letters is sufficient to support the claimed benefits.

Letters of support for sustainable groundwater planning in the Chowchilla Subbasin are included with this application as a representation of the type of support by the many disadvantaged communities throughout the subbasin. Letters were received from the following agencies and organizations:

• Chowchilla Water District

• City of Chowchilla

• Madera East Growers Group

• Merced County

• Merced Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (represents Merced Irrigation-Urban GSA, Turner Island Water District GSA, and Merced Subbasin GSA)

• San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (on behalf of the Northern & Central Delta-Mendota Region GSP)

• Red Top Landowners Group

• Triangle T Water District



Table 1 Summary of Disadvantaged Communities (SDACs and DACs) in the Chowchilla Subbasin

Table 2 Summary of Severely Disadvantaged Communities (SDACs) in the Chowchilla Subbasin



Table 3 Summary of Economically Distressed Areas (EDAs) in the Chowchilla Subbasin

C. Technical Expertise 4. (3 points) Demonstrate the appropriate experience, knowledge, and skills necessary to

complete the project. • Explain the different roles and responsibilities of the GSA(s) and cooperating entities

within the GSAs. Expand to multiple GSAs within the same basin if separate GSPs are being developed.

Currently, Madera County GSA has taken the lead in grant administration for the GSP development and groundwater monitoring wells, so has significant experience in administering grants. The Madera County GSA will take the lead in grant administration for the Chowchilla Subbasin. The other four GSAs will support the Madera County GSA in engaging a qualified professional geologist and/or professional engineer to complete the work. The other four GSAs will also assist in review of the results and support community outreach to confirm the existence of domestic wells within their respective GSA.

• Provide a description of successfully completed water bond grants (at DWR or other state agencies).

The Madera County staff has considerable experience in previous grant work within Madera County, including Prop 84 work for the flood control agency to remove arundo and sediment from channels, Stressed Basin’s work to create two technical memos as well as the current GSP development and groundwater monitoring wells. The following is a table detailing some of the most recent efforts:



Grant Name Date Award Amount

Description

Proposition 1 Sustainable Groundwater Planning (SGWP) Grant Program

2017-2018

$2,500,000 The proposal objective was to provide groundwater monitoring well facilities for long-term monitoring of groundwater sustainability within the Chowchilla Subbasinfor the benefit of SDACs and to prepare one Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the entire Chowchilla Subbasin to comply with the GSP regulations and achieve sustainable groundwater conditions by 2040.


2017-2018

$2,500,000 The proposal objective was to provide groundwater monitoring well facilities for long-term monitoring of groundwater sustainability within the Chowchilla Subbasinfor the benefit of SDACs and to prepare one Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for a portion of the Subbasin represented by six Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) in coordination with a second GSP to be developed by the seventh GSA.


2015-2016

$500,000 The objective of the project is the development and completion of interagency agreements that foster the formation of coordinated Groundwater Sustainability Agencies in both the Chowchilla and Madera Subbasins. The GSAs were formed through a public process engaging identified stakeholders, resulting in governance structures and clear decision making processes. The project included the completion of basin assessments, determination of data gaps and data collection.

• Provide a description on the experience with completing large-scale planning documents successfully and the outcome of those efforts.

Madera County staff has also successfully completed an Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.

• Provide documentation that the required work within the GSP will be prepared by or under the direction of a professional geologist or professional engineer with the experience required to complete those tasks.

The inventory of domestic wells and installation of additional groundwater monitoring wells in the Chowchilla Subbasin will be done by a qualified professional geologist and/or professional engineer selected through a transparent process.

5. (2 points) Provide assurances that the team selected knows what needs to be completed to meet Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) regulations, and DWR requirements in the development of a GSP. • Provide letter of support from other GSAs surrounding the basin and within the basin

supporting the efforts, per Section E. of this template, or explain why letters of support are not possible.

Letters of support have been provided from the following GSAs surrounding and within the Chowchilla Subbasin. These letters have been included in Attachment 6 of the application.

• Chowchilla Water District



• City of Chowchilla

• Madera East Growers Group

• Merced County

• Merced Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (represents Merced Irrigation-Urban GSA, Turner Island Water District GSA, and Merced Subbasin GSA)

• San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (on behalf of the Northern & Central Delta-Mendota Region GSP)

• Red Top Landowners Group

• Triangle T Water District

• Provide assurances that the applicant will have a completed GSP that is adopted and submitted to DWR for review by the required due date.

The GSP developed to cover the Chowchilla Subbasin is currently in the public review process and scheduled for adoption prior to the end of December 2019. The GSP has been developed through extensive discussions among the GSAs and as described in the coordination agreement all GSAs utilized the same data and general methodologies to develop the GSP and provided information on planned projects to the groundwater modeling described in the Joint GSP. Given the level of cooperation exhibited and based on review of the public review drafts and conversations among the GSA representatives in the Chowchilla Subbasin together with the extensive public involvement provide the assurance that the completed GSP will be adopted and a signed coordination agreement will be submitted to DWR by the required due date in 2020.

PROJECT DETAILS

D. Scope of Work and Deliverables (maximum of 3 points possible) 6. (3 points) The Work Plan should include, at a minimum, the following items:

a. Scope of work for the project shall include work items to be performed under each task consistent with the Budget and Schedule (Attachments 4 and 5, respectively).

b. Project deliverables for assessing progress and accomplishments, which include quarterly progress and final reports.

a. Scope of Work The scope of work must list and concisely describe the necessary task(s) to complete the project. The Project Details of the Work Plan should identify how the interested parties including groundwater users, stakeholders, and the general public, will be informed about the proposed project progress and how relevant reports and data will be disseminated to these groups.

This scope of work covers all of the Chowchilla Subbasin as defined by DWR. Chowchilla Subbasin has been designated as critically overdraft by DWR and will have a GSP and a coordination agreement submitted by January 31, 2020. A majority of the Subbasin is comprised of EDA, DAC, and SDAC areas that are experiencing significant groundwater problems. This work plan was developed in consultation with the Chowchilla Subbasin Advisory Committee GSA representatives. The primary objective of the work plan is for the GSAs in the Subbasin to implement projects and management actions necessary to achieve sustainable groundwater conditions by 2040, including the creation of an inventory and database of domestic water wells in the subbasin as well as construction of additional groundwater monitoring wells. The proposed work plan consists of three components, including: 1) Component 1 – Grant Agreement Administration: Amend the Chowchilla Subbasin’s existing grant

agreement with DWR for management of their Sustainable Groundwater Planning grant agreement and administer the grant.



2) Component 2 – Domestic Well Inventory: Conduct a detailed well inventory of domestic (residential) wells to improve overall understanding of regional groundwater pumping and groundwater characteristics as well as identify vulnerabilities within the Chowchilla Subbasin.

3) Component 3 – Groundwater Monitoring Wells: Install groundwater monitoring wells in the Chowchilla Subbasin at depths necessary to analyze vulnerability of domestic wells.

Scope of Work: Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Inventory and Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation Project Component 1: Grant Agreement Administration Project Component 1 will constitute the creation of an amendment to the Chowchilla Subbasin’s existing grant agreement with DWR for management of their Sustainable Groundwater Planning grant agreement. This component will provide continued grant administration once the existing funding agreement has been amended to reflect the addition of this proposed work plan, and the associated budget and schedule, to account for the schedule extension and additional progress reports and invoicing packages required for inclusion of the work outlined in Components 2 and 3, below.

(a) Grant Agreement Administration Task A.1 - Grant Agreement Administration and Management

Estimated Percent Complete: 0%

This task will involve the management and administration of the grant funding to be received under the Sustainable Groundwater Management grant. As required under the Chowchilla Subbasin’s current funding agreement, this task will involve the preparation of reimbursement request packages containing invoices from those agencies implementing the components and quarterly progress reports. Invoices will be checked and incorporated into monthly invoices that clearly show team members, hours, costs, and progress on Project tasks. Quarterly progress reports will be prepared showing progress made during the month, next steps for the following billing cycle, and status of both schedule and budget. Activities under this task will also include review of Project-related documents to ensure adherence to the requirements of the DWR Grant Agreement. This task includes preparation of a final report to DWR, in addition to submittal of quarterly progress reports and invoices, as required by the grant agreement.

Task A.1 Deliverables:

• Create amendment to the Chowchilla Subbasin’s existing SGWP grant agreement. • Development and submittal of quarterly reimbursement request packages. • Development and submittal of quarterly progress reports. • Development and submittal of final proposal report.

Component 2: Domestic Well Inventory Madera County is an active Groundwater Sustainability Agency in the Chowchilla subbasin, which has a significant demand reduction as a prominent component of reaching sustainability. Demand reduction will be transitioned throughout the 20 year implementation period, and potentially could result in continued lowering of groundwater levels. To protect for potential impacts to existing domestic wells the Subbasin is considering a domestic well mitigation program to mitigate for undesirable results with respect to domestic wells. However, data on the quantity, location, and important details of domestic wells are incomplete and poorly understood. A detailed well inventory of domestic (residential) wells will improve overall understanding of regional groundwater pumping and groundwater characteristics as well as identify vulnerabilities within the Chowchilla Subbasin.

(a) Implementation / Assessment Task A.1 - Domestic Well Inventory




A domestic well inventory will be completed within the Chowchilla Subbasin. The inventory will begin with a search of county assessor records to create a list of all residential properties in the Subbasin that likely have domestic wells. This list will be compared to lists of properties on public and private (mutual) water systems as well as properties already included in DWR’s Well Completion Report database in order to identify gaps where residences exist and may have a well, but who are not on public or private system(s) and have not been identified within DWR’s well completion reports. The existence of wells on these properties will be confirmed through stakeholder outreach, including the possible use of mailers or workshops if necessary. Identified residential wells will be mapped in relation to the GSP modeling results to understand where potential ‘hot-spot’ areas may exist. Outreach efforts will focus on these key areas to assure proactive communications, and to aid with developing a mitigation program for potentially impacted domestic wells.


• Database, spreadsheet and graphics/maps of identified domestic wells in the Chowchilla Subbasin.

Task A.2 - Domestic Well Inventory Analysis Water Quality Data


Any existing water quality data that can be added to the well inventory spreadsheet will be added. This spreadsheet will be prepared in a form that could be added to the Subbasin’s Data Management System.


• Create spreadsheet of domestic wells in Subbasin with available water quality data.

Task A.3 - Identify Locations for Additional Groundwater Monitoring Wells


Using the data obtained in Tasks 1 and 2, this task will seek to identify locations for additional groundwater monitoring wells for the groundwater monitoring network (see Component 3), as well as for consideration when planning potential projects . Focus will be on assuring monitoring wells are located in areas of concentrated domestic wells to allow monitoring of groundwater elevations and water quality as detailed in the Chowchilla Subbasin GSPs.


• Create map of potential groundwater monitoring wells • Create list of potential projects

Component 3: Groundwater Monitoring Wells Construction The third component of this project is for Groundwater Monitoring Wells Installation to support the long-term monitoring of groundwater sustainability from residential wells in the Chowchilla Subbasin (identified from the inventory conducted in Component 2 of the project) in DACs. The work plan and scope of work described below for this project includes planning, siting, permitting, constructing, sampling, and instrumenting dedicated groundwater monitoring wells to help further refine the hydrogeologic conceptualization of the subbasin and provide facilities for long-term monitoring of groundwater conditions and overall groundwater sustainability among residential wells within the Chowchilla Subbasin for the benefit of DACs.

(a) Land Purchase / Easements

Task A.1 - Property Easement Acquisition




The project team (with assistance from the GSAs) will locate specific properties within the subbasin that are suitable for installation of dedicated monitoring facilities. This task will involve identifying potential properties for siting of monitoring wells, provision of landowner contact information, assistance with paperwork to secure easements, etc. As part of this task, stakeholders, including groundwater users, the general public, and other interested parties, will be kept informed about the Project’s progress, relevant reports and data, and on work and products completed under this task.


• Identification of potential properties for siting of monitoring wells • Provision of landowner contact information • Paperwork to secure easements • Community outreach and project updates and reports

(b) Planning / Design / Environmental (Well Siting and Permitting) Task B.1 - Final Vetting of Monitoring Well Sites


Task B.1 will involve review and use of available data and information to refine preliminary data gap analysis of the domestic well inventory results for the DAs and identify areas within the Chowchilla Subbasin where monitoring wells may be constructed that have the highest likelihood of meeting monitoring network objectives for the domestic wells. The following sources of data and information will be used to refine the understanding of the project area:

• State of California Well Drillers Completion Reports • Previous hydrogeologic studies by the project team • Reports prepared by other consultants • Hydrogeologic reports prepared by California Department of Water Resources (DWR and

United States Geological Survey (USGS)

The preliminary monitoring well site locations will be reviewed and prioritized to maximize benefits for the DA areas. A target drilling depth will be identified for each monitoring well site. Final monitoring well site selection will be based on work completed under this task and drilling costs obtained during the bid process.

Task B.1 Deliverables:

• Map showing final monitoring well locations. • Copies of permits.

Task B.2 - Property Evaluation for Final Monitoring Well Locations


The project team will work with the GSAs in the Chowchilla Subbasin to identify specific properties for further investigation in the general site vicinity of each final monitoring well location. The project team will evaluate each potential well site related to siting and constructability of a monitoring well. Specific items to be reviewed include:

• Availability/ownership of land • Site size • Site\access • Land use – site and vicinity • Seasonal ground conditions • Utilities • Water supply for drilling • Fluids disposal • Cuttings storage and disposal • Neighbors • Need for sound attenuation (i.e., noise control measures)



• Safety/security • Real or potential surface contamination

The construction feasibility for the properties under consideration will be evaluated, along with the suitability of the property for long-term use and access to the monitoring well facility. To the extent that two or more properties may be under consideration for a given monitoring well facility, the property that best meets the construction feasibility criteria (and suitability for maintaining long-term access) will be selected.


• Evaluation of vicinities around selected monitoring well sites.

Task B.3 – Permitting

Estimate Percent Complete: 0%

The project team will contact all applicable agencies as needed to establish permitting requirements for test hole drilling and monitoring well construction for the monitoring of groundwater levels and quality in areas identified to have a high concentration of domestic wells. At a minimum, drilling permits for Madera County will be required. Additional permits that may be required include encroachment permits, NPDES/Waste Discharge permits, and CEQA documentation. Madera County will ensure that all required permits are obtained and that their requirements are met. These items are also described in the environmental compliance and permitting plan section below.


• Madera County Drilling Permits • Encroachment Permits • NPDES/Waste Discharge Permits • CEQA Documentation

(c) Implementation / Construction (Test Hole Drilling and Monitoring Well Installation) Test hole drilling will be conducted at the prospective well site(s) in the Chowchilla Subbasin to collect site and zone specific lithologic and geophysical data that will be used to identify zones of interest and to design efficient, sand free wells. Test holes will be reamed to accommodate the construction of a multiple completion monitoring well to be used to collect depth specific groundwater quality and water level information.

Task C.1 - Specifications and Bidding


Existing specifications prepared for the Round 2 Category 1 grant project will be used, and updated as needed, for the drilling of test holes and construction of multiple completion monitoring wells that will include detailed construction requirements that must be followed by the well drilling contractor during every phase of the project. The project specifications will address:

• Drilling method • Equipment decontamination • General drilling fluid management and management of adverse drilling conditions • Sampling procedures • Geophysical surveys • Monitoring well materials (casing, screens, gravel, sealing materials) • Construction methods • Monitoring well development methods • Water quality sampling procedures • Water quality analysis • Fluid and cutting containment and disposal • Abandonment or replacement of test hole or monitoring wells, if warranted • Site restoration



The project team will prepare an agenda and conduct a pre-bid meeting with prospective contractors to review elements of the project and review technical and logistical aspects of the well construction and testing as set forth in the project specifications. The project team will issue any addenda and respond to Requests for Information from contractors throughout the bidding period. The project team will also review required submittals, evaluate bids, and recommend award.

Task C.1 Deliverables:

• Updated well construction specifications and prepare bid package documents • Prepare an agenda and conduct a pre-bid meeting with prospective contractors • Issue any addenda and respond to Requests for Information from contractors throughout the

bidding period • Review of required submittals, evaluate bids, and award recommendations

Task C.2 - Project Field Supervision and Construction Observation


The project team will provide oversite and supervision of all work performed by the contractor during drilling and construction of the monitoring wells. To ensure the work is completed in accordance with the contract specifications and accepted industry practice, all onsite work will be overseen by a California Professional Geologist, or someone working under the direct supervision of a California Professional Geologist.

The drilling contractor will be required to have on site at all times a designated person who will 1) have on site decision making authority regarding directions from the onsite geologist should situations occur that are not addressed or were not contemplated in the project specifications; 2) monitor the work being done to ensure it is being carried out as outlined in the project specifications and in a safe and professional manner; and 3) document drilling activities.


• Contract with California Professional Geologist • Drilling site inspector • Documentation of drilling activities

Task C.3 - Monitoring Well Drilling and Installation


The subsurface investigation at each site will include test hole drilling, collection of lithologic samples, performing down hole geophysical surveys, monitoring well installation, and collection of water quality samples. The preliminary test hole depth will be based on the information developed as part of Task 2. Before test hole drilling begins, a conceptual site plan will be developed. The conceptual site plan will depict the following:

• Proposed Test Hole/Monitoring Well Location • Water Supply for Drilling • Site Ingress and Egress • Site Specific Restrictions • Site Safety Measures

The project team will provide documentation and sampling services during the drilling process including a drilling log, analysis of geological samples at a minimum of 10-foot intervals, and review of geophysical (electric) logs. The project team will evaluate the subsurface geology at each site using interpretation of drill cutting samples and downhole geophysical logs. The project team will identify depth zones to be targeted for installation of individual piezometers that will allow for the collection of zone specific groundwater levels and water quality samples.

Based on the information from the test hole, the project team will prepare a monitoring well design. Final well designs will adhere to California Department of Water Resources Water Well Standards as outlined in Bulletin 74-81 and the applicable local well permitting agency. A field



record will be kept, indicating the depth intervals and volumes of all construction materials used to complete each well. Monitoring wells will be constructed of the following materials:

• Blank well casing: 2-inch Schedule 40 PVC, F-480 88-A • Well screen: 2-inch Schedule 40 PVC, F-480 88-A with 0.030-inch screen slots • End cap: 2-inch Schedule 40 PVC, F-480 88-A • Gravel envelope: #8 sieve, siliceous gravel • Intermediate sealing material: unsaturated zone, neat cement or 10.3 sack sand cement grout;

saturated zone, bentonite chips; annular seal, 10.3 sack sand cement grout

It is anticipated that monitoring well clusters will be drilled and installed at seven locations. Each monitoring well may include up to three 2-inch PVC piezometers at depths of up to 800 feet. The screen section(s) of each piezometer will be isolated from one another using intermediate bentonite seals allowing for discrete water level measurements and water quality sampling. The project team will oversee the construction and development of the monitoring wells.


• Monitoring well specifications. • Geophysical logs and draft monitoring well construction diagrams

Task C.4 - Monitoring Well Development


Each monitoring well will be developed by airlifting, pumping, bailing, or any combination thereof to remove drilling fluids from the gravel pack and the evaded zone to ensure unfettered movement of groundwater into the well structure and to allow for collection of representative water samples. The development will continue until the monitoring well produces water free of sand and the following turbidity guidelines can be achieved after surging the well.

• For piezometers that produce less than 2 gpm, a turbidity of 10 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) must be achieved within two wet casing volumes of purging.

• For piezometers that produce at least 2 gpm, a turbidity of 5 NTU must be achieved within two wet casing volumes of purging.

All water generated during development will be contained and disposed of according to site requirements.


• Developing up to three (3) sets of nested monitoring wells for the Chowchilla Subbasin.

(d) Monitoring / Assessment (Monitoring Well Sampling and Instrumentation) Task D.1 – Groundwater Sampling


After development of the monitoring wells, water samples will be collected from each piezometer and submitted to a state certified laboratory for general mineral, general physical, and inorganic constituent analysis. All field equipment used to measure and record water quality field parameters will be calibrated per manufacturer’s instructions prior to a sampling event. The pump assembly and discharge hosing will be decontaminated or replaced before sampling each well. Prior to sampling a well, the static water level will be measured using an electric sounder to the nearest 0.01 foot. Monitoring wells will be purged until field parameters have stabilized (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity). Water samples will be collected, cataloged, and submitted to a state certified lab for water quality analysis according to EPA procedures.

Task D.1 Deliverables:

• Water samples will be collected, cataloged, and submitted to a state certified laboratory for water quality analysis according to EPA procedures



Task D.2 – Instrumentation for Water Level Monitoring and Well Surveying


Each of the monitoring wells will be equipped with continuous and automated water level monitoring instrumentation. Automated water level measurements will be collected in each monitoring well using submersible pressure transducers with data loggers. Transducers will be suspended by cable inside the well casing at a depth sufficient to record the full range of seasonal water levels. Transducers should be downloaded and checked for proper operation on a regular basis following initial installation and verification that they are in proper working order. All wells will be surveyed by a licensed surveyor to provide accurate location coordinates and reference elevation.


Equip each well with continuous and automated water level monitoring instrumentation. Provide surveyed location and elevation coordinates.

Task D.3 - Monitoring Well Installation Summary Report

The project team will prepare and deliver to the GSAs an Investigation Summary Monitoring Well Installation Report. The report will include:

• A summary of all field activities associated with test hole drilling, monitoring well construction and development, and water quality testing

• Location map • A lithologic log based upon interpretation of collected drill cuttings and geophysical logs • Geophysical surveys • Monitoring well as-built diagrams with location coordinates and elevation • Daily inspection sheets • A summary of water quality results and analytical reports • Copies of all project permits • Copies of Water Well Completion Reports

The project team will provide recommendations in the report regarding longer-term maintenance and monitoring of the new dedicated monitoring well facilities. The monitoring well installation report will be prepared under supervision of and stamped by a California Professional Geologist.


• Delivery of the Investigation Summary Monitoring Well Installation Report document

b. Project Deliverables

Project deliverables should be actual work products that can be submitted to DWR (e.g., copies of GSP; feasibility study; project design; environmental compliance documentation; inputs/outputs from groundwater-surface water model; data management system; well completion and summary report including any geophysical surveys, water quality analysis, sieve analysis, or other supporting tests completed in support of well design, drilling, completion, etc.). Also, include the current status of any task including estimated percent (0 – 100%) completed.

Deliverables for each Task and subtask, as described in the previous section above, include the following:

Component 1: Grant Agreement Administration (a) Grant Agreement Administration

Task A.1 - Grant Agreement Administration and Management Deliverables:

• Create amendment to the Chowchilla Subbasin’s existing SGWP grant agreement. • Development and submittal of quarterly reimbursement request packages.



• Development and submittal of quarterly progress reports. • Development and submittal of final proposal report.


Component 2: Domestic Well Inventory (a) Implementation/Assessment

Task A.1 - Domestic Well Inventory Deliverables:

• Database, spreadsheet and graphics/maps of identified domestic wells in the Chowchilla Subbasin


Task A.2 - Domestic Well Inventory Analysis Water Quality Data Deliverables:

• Create spreadsheet of domestic wells in Subbasin with available water quality data.


Task A.3 - Identify Locations for Additional Groundwater Monitoring Wells Deliverables:

• Create map of potential groundwater monitoring wells in the Chowchilla Subbasin • Create list of potential projects


Component 3: Groundwater Monitoring Wells Construction (a) Land Purchase / Easements

Task A.2 - Property Easement Acquisition Deliverables:

• Identification of potential properties for siting of monitoring wells • Provision of landowner contact information • Paperwork to secure easements • Community outreach and project updates and reports


(b) Planning / Design / Environmental (Well Siting and Permitting) Task B.1 - Final Vetting of Monitoring Well Sites Deliverables:

• Map showing final monitoring well locations. • Copies of permits.


Task B.2 - Property Evaluation for Final Monitoring Well Locations Deliverables:

• Evaluation of vicinities around selected monitoring well sites.


Task B.3 – Permitting Deliverables:

• Madera County Drilling Permits • Encroachment Permits • NPDES/Waste Discharge Permits • CEQA Documentation




(c) Implementation / Construction (Test Hole Drilling and Monitoring Well Installation) Task C.1 - Specifications and Bidding Deliverables:

• Prepare an agenda and conduct a pre-bid meeting with prospective contractors • Issue any addenda and respond to Requests for Information from contractors throughout the

bidding period • Review of required submittals, evaluate bids, and award recommendations


Task C.2 - Project Field Supervision and Construction Observation Deliverables:

• Contract with California Professional Geologist • Drilling site inspector • Documentation of drilling activities


Task C.3 - Monitoring Well Drilling and Installation Deliverables:

• Monitoring well specifications. • Geophysical logs and draft monitoring well construction diagrams


Task C.4 - Monitoring Well Development Deliverables:

• Developing up to three (3) monitoring wells for the Chowchilla Subbasin


(d) Monitoring / Assessment (Monitoring Well Sampling and Instrumentation) Task D.1 – Groundwater Sampling Deliverables:

• Water samples will be collected, cataloged, and submitted to a state certified laboratory for water quality analysis according to EPA procedures


Task D.2 – Instrumentation for Water Level Monitoring and Surveying Deliverables:

• Equip each well with continuous and automated water level monitoring instrumentation • Surveyed well locations and elevations


Task D.3 - Monitoring Well Installation Summary Report Deliverables:

• Delivery of the Investigation Summary Monitoring Well Installation Report document


Explain the plan for environmental compliance and permitting, if applicable, including a discussion of the following items:

• A description of the plan, proposed efforts, and approach to environmental compliance, including addressing any California Environmental Quality Act obligations in connection with the proposal;

• A listing of environmental related permits or entitlements that are needed for the project; and

• Any other applicable permits that will be required. Briefly describe the process and schedule for securing each permit/approval. If applicable, discuss necessary local drilling permits and the submittal of Well Completion Reports to DWR. Describe the proposed process for securing each environmental permit and any other regulatory agency approval.



As detailed in Project Component 3, Subtask 3.C.3 - Environmental Compliance and Permitting, the project team will contact all applicable agencies as needed to establish permitting requirements for test hole drilling and monitoring well construction. Within Madera County, including the entire Chowchilla Subbasin, the Madera County Environmental Health Division is entrusted with all permitting and enforcement for the construction, reconstruction, and destruction of wells. Wells under their oversight include, but are not limited to, agricultural wells, observation/monitoring wells, community water supply wells, and individual domestic water supply wells. The application process for Water Well Permits is handled online through the Madera County Permits Online website. This site allows parties to apply for a permit, submit plans, remit payment, and monitor the status of their permit.

It is anticipated that at a minimum, drilling permits for Madera County will be required. Additional permits that may be required include encroachment permits, NPDES/Waste Discharge permits, and CEQA documentation. The County will ensure that all required permits are obtained and that their requirements are met.

Schedule for Permitting & Approvals

Permit Est. Start Date Est. Finish Date Permit Status

Madera County Drilling Permits February 2021 December 2021 0% complete

Encroachment Permits February 2021 December 2021 0% complete

NPDES/Waste Discharge permits February 2021 December 2021 0% complete

CEQA Determination February 2021 December 2021 0% complete

MISCELLANEOUS

E. Project Support Applicants should provide documentation to demonstrate the proposed project support by the local entities, where possible, and should include the following items for proposals. If letters of support are not possible for the region, a brief explanation should be included explaining why letters of support are not included. • If the Applicant is a GSA(s) for the basin or the local agency in the basin which submitted an

Alternative Plan, provide evidence that the Applicant has coordinated with the SDAC(s) by submitting letters of support from the SDAC (examples such as local government board members, tribal council members, etc.). Refer to the letters of support and describe the outreach and education activities completed to work with the SDAC(s) to gain their support. o No alternative plan has been submitted by the GSAs in the Chowchilla Subbasin.

• If the applicant is not the GSA(s) for the basin, demonstrate and provide evidence that the Applicant has coordinated with the GSA(s) for the basin or the local agency in the basin which submitted an Alternative Plan, regarding implementation of the project (e.g., meeting minutes, letters of support, emails, other forms of correspondence). Refer to any letters of support provided by the GSA(s) for the proposed project. o Madera County is the lead GSA for the Chowchilla Subbasin and has coordinated with the other

GSA organizations on the development of this project.

• If one GSA is established in the basin, describe and provide documentation of any communication with GSA(s) in neighboring basins regarding groundwater sustainability planning and GSP development. o There are multiple GSA organizations within the Chowchilla Subbasin and these have

collaborated on this SGM grant project.



o The Chowchilla Subbasin GSAs have met with the Madera Subbasin, Merced Subbasin, and the Northern and Central Delta-Mendota Region GSP to discuss groundwater sustainability planning and GSP development. The dates and attendees for relevant meetings are provided below:

• Chowchilla Subbasin:

January 17, 2019

March 6, 2019

• Delta-Mendota Subbasin:

November 8, 2018

September 10, 2019

October 22, 2019

• Describe and provide documentation of any communication with beneficial users of groundwater in the basin that may potentially be affected by implementation of the project, including, but not limited to DAs, agricultural water users, municipal water users, wildlife refuges, or other stakeholders. o As the proposed project is primarily an inventory and monitoring well construction project, it is

anticipated to not have a significant impact on groundwater levels, water users, wildlife, or other stakeholders. It is anticipated that all proposed monitoring wells will be constructed on Madera County right of ways where feasible.

CHOWCHILLA SUBBASIN DOMESTIC WELL INVENTORY AND ATTACHMENT 4 GROUNDWATER MONITORING WELL INSTALLATION PROJECT BUDGET


ATTACHMENT 4 GRANT PROPOSAL SUMMARY BUDGET

Table 5B – Grant Proposal Summary Budget (Multiple Components) Grant Proposal Title: Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Inventory and Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation Project Applicant: County of Madera Grant Proposal serves a need of a DA?: X Yes ☐ No

Local Cost Share requested: ☐ 25% ☐ 15% ☐ 10% X 0%

Budget Categories1 (a)

Requested Grant Amount

(b) Local Cost Share: Non-State Fund

Source2

(c) Total Cost

(d) % Local Cost

Share (Col (b)/ Col (c))

Component 1 Grant Administration $50,000 $0 $50,000 0%

Component 2: Domestic Well Inventory $105,000 $0 $105,000 0%

Component 3: Monitoring Well Installation $345,000 $0 $345,000 0%

Grand Total Sum rows (1) through (n) for each column

$500,000 $0 $500,000 0%

1 These components are shown here for example purpose only. Actual number of components may vary. 2 List sources of funding: Use as much space as required. Local Cost Share is calculated based on the total project cost (grant amount plus match), not the grant amount. Total project cost x %Local Cost Share = required match.



ATTACHMENT 4 PROPOSAL/COMPONENT DETAILED BUDGET

Table 6B – Proposal/Component Detailed Budget (Multiple Components) Grant Proposal Title: Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Inventory and Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation Project Applicant: County of Madera Component Title: Component 1: Grant Administration

Budget Categories 1 (a)



Source2

(c) Total Cost

(a) Grant Administration $50,000 $0 $50,000

Task A.1 (Invoicing) $25,000 $0

Task A.1 (Reporting) $25,000 $0 Grand Total Sum rows in Category (a) for each column

$50,000 $0 $50,000

1 Only these Budget Categories shall be used. Tasks should be added for more detail. 2 List sources of funding: Use as much space as required here. Local Cost Share is calculated based on the total project cost (grant amount plus match), not the grant amount. Total project cost x %Local Cost Share = required match.




Table 6B – Proposal/Component Detailed Budget (Multiple Components) Grant Proposal Title: Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Inventory and Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation Project Applicant: County of Madera Component Title: Component 2: Domestic Well Inventory




Source2

(c) Total Cost

(b) Implementation / Assessment $105,000 $0 $94,500

Task A.1 (Domestic Well Inventory) $65,000 $0 Task A.2 - Domestic Well Inventory Analysis Water Quality Data $20,000 $0

Task A.3 - Feasibility Determination of Groundwater Monitoring Wells $20,000 $0

Grand Total Sum rows (a) through (d) for each column $105,000 $0 $105,000




Table 6B – Proposal/Component Detailed Budget (Multiple Components) Grant Proposal Title: Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Inventory and Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation Project Applicant: County of Madera Component Title: Component 3: Monitoring Well Installation




Source2

(c) Total Cost

(a) Land Purchase / Easement $6,000 $0 $6,000

Task A.1 - Property Easement Acquisition $6,000 $0

(b) Planning / Design / Environmental $22,000 $0 $22,000

Task B.1 - Final Vetting of Monitoring Well Sites $4,000 $0

Task B.2 - Property Evaluation for Final Monitoring Well Locations $10,000 $0

Task B.3 – Permitting $8,000 $0

(c) Implementation / Construction $300,000 $0 $300,000

Task C.1 - Specifications and Bidding $10,000 $0 Task C.2 - Project Field Supervision and Construction Observation $30,000 $0

Task C.3 - Monitoring Well Drilling and Installation $240,000 $0

Task C.4 - Monitoring Well Development $20,000 $0

(d) Monitoring / Assessment $17,000 $0 $17,000

Task D.1 – Groundwater Sampling $8,000 $0 Task D.2 – Instrumentation for Water Level Monitoring $5,000 $0

Task D.3 - Monitoring Well Installation Summary Report $4,000 $0

Grand Total Sum rows (a) through (e) for each column

$345,000 $0 $345,000

CHOWCHILLA SUBBASIN DOMESTIC WELL INVENTORY AND ATTACHMENT 5 GROUNDWATER MONITORING WELL INSTALLATION PROJECT SCHEDULE


ATTACHMENT 5 SCHEDULE

Table 7b – Grant Proposal Schedule (Multiple Components) Grant Proposal Title: Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Inventory and Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation Project Applicant: County of Madera As described in the work plan presented in Attachment 3, the objectives of the proposed project for the Chowchilla Subbasin includes the implementation of projects and management actions necessary to achieve sustainable groundwater conditions by 2040, including the creation of an inventory and database of domestic water wells in the subbasin as well as construction of additional groundwater monitoring wells. The proposed work plan consists of three components, including:

1) Component 1 – Grant Agreement Administration: This will include a single primary task to amend the Chowchilla Subbasin’s existing grant agreement with DWR for management of their Sustainable Groundwater Planning grant agreement.

2) Component 2 – Domestic Well Inventory: This will include three primary tasks and four subtasks to conduct a detailed well inventory of domestic (residential) wells to improve overall understanding of regional groundwater pumping and groundwater characteristics as well as identify vulnerabilities within the Chowchilla Subbasin.

3) Component 3 – Groundwater Monitoring Wells: This component will include four primary tasks and nine subtasks to construct additional groundwater monitoring wells in the Chowchilla Subbasin at depths necessary to analyze vulnerability of domestic wells.

With an assumed start date of April 1, 2020 and an assumed end date of around October 31, 2022, the project is allowing approximately 31 months including all time to conduct and record the well inventory; finalize sites; install, sample, and instrument the groundwater monitoring wells; summarize hydrogeologic information developed during well construction; and submit all project and grant reporting documentation to be done across all three project components. Preparation efforts under the third project component, such as well siting and permitting (Task 3.C), are allocated about 11 months and involve a potentially lengthy process of establishing communication and legal agreements with landowners for well siting. The well drilling and construction process (under Task 3.D), including bidding the well construction work and installing and developing the wells, is provided about seven (7) months in the schedule. Subtasks 3.D.2 to 3.D.4 include sampling the wells for water quality, installing permanent automated water level instrumentation, and interpreting results, and are expected to last about four (4) months. The schedule illustrates the timing of key tasks and some of the dependencies that exist between tasks. Because of uncertainty relating to the time required to finalize site agreements with landowners and potential for weather-related delays during the well drilling and construction, as well as any potential issues that may occur in the conducting of the residential well inventory process, the all three components of the complete project are shown as being completed by latest allowable date of October 31, 2020, although the intent is to complete all components of the project as soon as possible.

Categories Start Date End Date

Component 1: Project Component Administration 04/01/2020 10/31/2022

(a) Project Component Administration 04/01/2020 10/31/2022

Task A.1 - Grant Agreement Administration and Management 04/01/2020 10/31/2022



Component 2: Domestic Well Inventory 04/01/2020 10/31/2022

(a) Implementation / Assessment 05/01/2020 01/31/2021

Task A.1 - Domestic Well Inventory 04/01/2020 10/30/2020

Task A.2 - Domestic Well Inventory Analysis Water Quality Data 10/01/2020 12/31/2020

Task A.3 - Feasibility Determination of Groundwater Monitoring Wells 12/01/2020 02/26/2021

Component 3: Groundwater Monitoring Wells Construction 04/01/2020 10/31/2022

(a) Land Purchase / Easements 01/01/2021 10/31/2021

Task A.1 - Property Easement Acquisition 01/01/2021 10/31/2021

(b) Planning / Design / Environmental (Well Siting & Permitting) 01/01/2021 11/30/2021

Task B.1 – Final Vetting of Monitoring Well Sites 01/01/2021 03/01/2021

Task B.2 - Property Evaluation for Final Monitoring Well Locations 02/01/2021 12/01/2021

Task B.3 – Permitting 02/01/2021 12/01/2021

(c) Implementation / Construction (Test Hole Drilling & Monitoring Well Installation) 12/01/2021 7/1//2022

Task C.1 – Specifications and Bidding 12/01/2021 02/01/2022

Task C.2 - Project Field Supervision and Construction Observation 02/01/2022 07/01/2022

Task C.3 - Monitoring Well Drilling and Installation 02/01/2022 07/01/2022

Task C.4 - Monitoring Well Development 06/01/2022 07/01/2022

(d) Monitoring / Assessment (Monitoring Well Sampling and Instrumentation) 07/01/2022 10/31/2022

Task D.1 – Groundwater Sampling 07/01/2022 08/01/2022

Task D.2 – Instrumentation for Water Level Monitoring 08/01/2022 09/01/2022

Task D.3 - Monitoring Well Installation Summary Report 08/01/2022 10/31/2022



Project Schedule - Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Inventory and Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation Project

2020 2021 2022

Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Task A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O Component 1 – Project

Component Administration

(a) Administration Task A.1

Component 2 – Domestic Well Inventory

(a) Implementation/Assmt. Task A.1 Task A.2 Task A.3

Component 3 – Groundwater Monitoring Well Const.

(a) Land Purchase/Easements Task A.1

(b) Planning/Design/Enviro. Task B.1 Task B.2 Task B.3

(c) Implementation/Const. Task C.1 Task C.2 Task C.3 Task C.4

(d) Monitoring/Assessment Task D.1 Task D.2 Task D.3



Explain the plan for environmental compliance and permitting, if applicable, including a discussion of the following items:

• A description of the plan, proposed efforts, and approach to environmental compliance, including addressing any California Environmental Quality Act obligations in connection with the proposal;

• A listing of environmental related permits or entitlements that are needed for the project; and

• Any other applicable permits that will be required.

Briefly describe the process and schedule for securing each permit/approval. If applicable, discuss necessary local drilling permits and the submittal of Well Completion Reports to DWR. Describe the proposed process for securing each environmental permit and any other regulatory agency approval.

As detailed in Project Component 3, Subtask 3.C.3 - Environmental Compliance and Permitting, the project team will contact all applicable agencies as needed to establish permitting requirements for test hole drilling and monitoring well construction. Within Madera County, including the entire Chowchilla Subbasin, the Madera County Environmental Health Division is entrusted with all permitting and enforcement for the construction, reconstruction, and destruction of wells. Wells under their oversight include, but are not limited to, agricultural wells, observation/monitoring wells, community water supply wells, and individual domestic water supply wells. The application process for Water Well Permits is handled online through the Madera County Permits Online website. This site allows parties to apply for a permit, submit plans, remit payment, and monitor the status of their permit.

It is anticipated that at a minimum, drilling permits for Madera County will be required. Additional permits that may be required include encroachment permits, NPDES/Waste Discharge permits, and CEQA documentation. The County will ensure that all required permits are obtained and that their requirements are met.

Schedule for Permitting & Approvals

Permit Est. Start Date Est. Finish Date Permit Status

Madera County Drilling Permits February 2021 December 2021 0% complete

Encroachment Permits February 2021 December 2021 0% complete

NPDES/Waste Discharge permits

February 2021 December 2021 0% complete

CEQA Determination February 2021 December 2021 0% complete

CHOWCHILLA SUBBASIN DOMESTIC WELL INVENTORY AND ATTACHMENT 6 GROUNDWATER MONITORING WELL INSTALLATION PROJECT SDAC-DAC-EDA


ATTACHMENT 6

SDAC, DAC, AND EDA STATUS Grant Proposal Title:


Applicant: County of Madera Description of Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) in the Chowchilla Subbasin More than seventy-five (75) percent of the Chowchilla Subbasin area is classified as a Disadvantaged Community (DAC) or a Severely Disadvantaged Community (SDAC). DACs are areas identified as having a median household income (MHI) of less than 80 percent of the California statewide MHI, which include SDACs where the MHI is less than 60 percent of the statewide MHI. Of the approximately 146,325 total acres in the Chowchilla Subbasin, more than 75 percent are classified as a DAC or SDAC.

More than 110,000 acres (75.6 percent) of the Chowchilla Subbasin are identified as DACs based on Census Block Group data, including more than 39,000 acres (27 percent) classified as SDACs. When the cumulative area for DACs based on Census Tract data and the Block Group data are considered, an additional 639 acres of area are classified as DAC. Furthermore, when Census Places are considered in addition to the Block Groups and Tracts, the total DAC area is calculated to be 115,246 acres, or 78.8 percent of the Subbasin; about 29.7 percent of the Subbasin is classified as SDAC based on the combined Census Block Group and Place data. The DACs in the Subbasin are presented on Figure 1 and summarized in Table 1 below.

Table 1

Summary of Disadvantaged Communities (SDACs and DACs) in the Chowchilla Subbasin



Figure 1. Chowchilla Subbasin DACs



Description of Severely Disadvantaged Communities (SDACs) in the Chowchilla Subbasin Nearly 30 percent of the Chowchilla Subbasin is considered part of a SDAC - areas identified as having a median household income (MHI) of less than 60 percent of the California statewide MHI. Of the approximately 146,325 total acres in the Chowchilla Subbasin, nearly 30 percent are within SDACs based on the 2010‐2014 US Census American Community Survey (ACS) and in accordance with data from DWR’s Disadvantaged Communities Mapping Tool. The areas within the Subbasin identified as SDACs are displayed Figure 2. A summary of SDAC area by different Census geography type (i.e., Census Tract, Block Group, Place) within the Subbasin is presented in Table 2 below.

More than 43,400 acres of the Chowchilla Subbasin are identified as SDACs based on the combination of Census Block Group, Census Tract, and Census Place data. Approximately 39,500 acres of the identified SDAC area are based on Census Block Group data amounting to 27 percent of the Subbasin whereas about 3,940 acres (2.7 percent) are based on Census Place data. In total, 29.7 percent of the Subbasin is classified as SDAC based on the combined Census Block Group and Place data. As illustrated in Figure 2, the SDAC areas are located mainly in the northern and southern central parts of the Subbasin and also in the general vicinity of the City of Chowchilla.

Table 2 Summary of Severely Disadvantaged Communities (SDACs) in the Chowchilla Subbasin



Figure 2. Chowchilla Subbasin SDACs



Description of Economically Distressed Areas (EDAs) in the Chowchilla Subbasin A considerable fraction (76 percent) of the Chowchilla Subbasin is classified as an EDA. EDAs are areas identified as having the following characteristics: 1) a median household income (MHI) of less than 85 percent of the California statewide MHI, 2) population of less than 20,000 persons, and 3) unemployment rates at least 2 percent higher than the statewide average unemployment rate or population density of less than 100 persons per square mile. Of the approximately 146,325 total acres in the Chowchilla Subbasin, about 76 percent are within EDAs identified based on data from the 2013‐2017 US Census American Community Survey (ACS) and the California Employment Development Department (2018) and in accordance with data from DWR’s Economically Distressed Areas Mapping Tool.

More than 111,000 acres (76 percent) of the Chowchilla Subbasin are identified as EDAs based on the overlapping areas of Census Block Groups meeting the MHI and population criteria and counties meeting the unemployment rate criterion. As shown on Figure 3 and Table 3 below, the EDAs in the Chowchilla Subbasin are represented by the overlap of areas meeting EDA criteria 1 and 2 (listed above) for MHI and population and areas meeting criterion 3 for unemployment rate. In the Chowchilla Subbasin, 76 percent of the Subbasin is within Census Block Groups that have an MHI of less than 85 percent of the statewide MHI and total population less than 20,000 persons. The third criterion for unemployment rate is met by both of the counties in the Subbasin (Madera and Merced). Approximately 93 percent of the Subbasin also has Census Tract population densities of less than 100 persons per square mile, which is an alternate third criterion to unemployment rate (in addition to MHI and total population) for identification of EDAs, although this criterion was not used in the delineation of EDAs in the Chowchilla Subbasin.

Table 3 Summary of Economically Distressed Areas (EDAs) in the Chowchilla Subbasin



Figure 3. Chowchilla Subbasin EDAs



Importance of Project to DAC, SDAC, and EDA Regions Some DAs in the Chowchilla Subbasin rely solely on groundwater for drinking water supply and have very limited financial resources, making them particularly sensitive to changes in groundwater levels and quality. This project supports the development of a mitigation program with direct benefits DAs in the subbasin. Approximately 29.7 percent of the Subbasin is designated as part of an SDAC and 75.6 percent of the Subbasin is designated as part of a DAC.

Support from DACs, SDACs, and EDAs Many of the disadvantaged stakeholder groups in the Chowchilla Subbasin have expressed support for the efforts made by Madera County and the other GSAs in the Subbasin towards sustainable groundwater management planning. With many of the DACs in the Subbasin reliant on groundwater as the sole source of supply, the regional and local groundwater conditions in the Subbasin directly affect the well‐being and livelihood of these communities. A cost‐effective GSP implementation will provide long‐term benefits to these communities by protecting and managing their access to safe and reliable groundwater. Madera County has conducted outreach to disadvantaged stakeholders in the Subbasin to solicit feedback during the process of establishing GSAs, and during the early steps of data collection and analysis for the GSP.

Support Letters Letters of support for sustainable groundwater planning in the Chowchilla Subbasin are included with this application and attachment as a representation of the type of support by the many disadvantaged communities throughout the subbasin. Letters were received from the following agencies and organizations:

1) Chowchilla Water District

2) City of Chowchilla

3) Madera East Growers Group

4) Merced County

5) Merced Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (represents Merced Irrigation-Urban GSA, Turner Island Water District GSA, and Merced Subbasin GSA)

6) San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (on behalf of the Northern & Central Delta-Mendota Region GSP)

7) Red Top Landowners Group

8) Triangle T Water District

Board of Supervisors Rodrigo Espinoza Supervisor, District One Lee Lor Supervisor, District Two Daron McDaniel Supervisor, District Three Lloyd Pareira Supervisor, District Four Scott Silveira Supervisor, District Five James L. Brown County Executive Officer Merced County Administration Building 2222 M Street Merced, CA 95340 (209) 385-7366 (209) 726-7977 Fax www.countyofmerced.com Equal Opportunity Employer Striving for Excellence

October 31, 2019 Sustainable Management Grant Program P.O. Box 942836 Sacramento, CA 94236-0001 RE: SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PROP 68 GRANT

PROGRAM Dear Ms. List and Mr. Eusuff: The Merced County Board of Supervisors is pleased to extend its support for the application submitted by the Madera County, Department of Water and Natural Resources for a Sustainable Groundwater Planning Grant Round 3, titled “Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Inventory and Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation Project.” This project covers all the Chowchilla Subbasin which extends into Merced County, where the County of Merced Chowchilla GSA is located. A significant portion of this subbasin is comprised of EDA, DAC, and SDAC areas that are experiencing significant water problems. This project intends to create an inventory and database of domestic water wells in this subbasin as well as construction of additional groundwater monitoring wells. This will assist the GSAs in the subbasin with implementing the necessary projects and management actions to achieve sustainable groundwater conditions by 2040. We understand that conducting a domestic well inventory and construction of additional monitoring wells for observing groundwater levels and water quality samples will assist with identifying where “hot-spots” may exist. This can potentially aid in developing a mitigation program for potentially impacted wells. By being a part of the coordinated efforts to work jointly on this and other projects, we can assist to advise the GSAs governing bodies on development, implementation, and public engagement on this and other projects to further the efforts of a sustainable subbasin. Thank you in advance for considering this application; we look forward to working with Madera County in better water and natural resource management in our subbasin. Sincerely, Lloyd Pareira, Chairman Merced County Board of Supervisors

via electronic mail October 28, 2019 Sustainable Management Grant Program P.O. Box 942836 Sacramento, CA 94236-0001 RE: Sustainable Groundwater Management Prop 68 Grant Program Dear Kelley List and Zaffar Eusuff: As representatives of the Merced Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, we are pleased to extend our support for the application submitted by the Madera County, Department of Water and Natural Resources titled “Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Inventory and Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation Project.” This project covers all the Chowchilla Subbasin, located adjacent to the Merced Subbasin. A significant portion of this subbasin is comprised of EDA, DAC, and SDAC areas that are experiencing significant water problems. This project intends to create an inventory and database of domestic water wells in this subbasin as well as construction of additional groundwater monitoring wells. This will assist the GSAs in the subbasin with implementing the necessary projects and management actions to achieve sustainable groundwater conditions by 2040. We understand that conducting a domestic well inventory and construction of additional monitoring wells for observing groundwater levels and water quality samples will help identify where the “hot-spots” may exist. This can potentially aid with developing a mitigation program for potentially impacted wells. Thank you in advance for considering this application; we look forward to working with Madera County in better water and natural resource management in the region. Sincerely,

Hicham ElTal, Chair Donald C. Skinner, Chair Bob Kelley, Chair Merced Irrigation-Urban GSA Turner Island Water District GSA-1 Merced Subbasin GSA

October 29, 2019

Sustainable Management Grant Program P.O. Box 942836 Sacramento, CA 94236-0001

NORTHERN & CENTRAL DELTA-

MENDOTA

RE: Sustainable Groundwater Management Prop 68 Grant Program

Dear Kelley List and Zaffar Eusuff:

On behalf of the Northern & Central Delta-Mendota Region Groundwater Sustainability Plan, I am pleased to submit this letter of support for the application submitted by the Madera County, Department of Water and Natural Resources titled "Chowchilla Subbasin Domestic Well Inventory and Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation Project.'' The Northern & Central DeltaMendota Region GSP is one of six coordinated GSPs in the Delta-Mendota Subbasin, which is a neighboring subbasin of the Chowchilla Subbasin.

A significant portion of this Subbasin is comprised of EDA, DAC, and SDAC areas that are experiencing significant water problems. This project, which covers all of the Chowchilla Subbasin, is to create an inventory and database of domestic water wells in this Subbasin as well as construction of additional groundwater monitoring wells. This will assist the GSAs in the Subbasin to implement the necessary projects and management actions to achieve sustainable groundwater conditions by 2040.

We understand that conducting a domestic well inventory and construction of additional monitoring wells for observing groundwater levels and water quality samples will help identify where the "hot-spots' may exist. This can potentially aid with developing a mitigation program for potentially impacted wells. By being a part of the coordinated efforts to work jointly on this and other projects, Madera County can assist to advise the GSAs governing bodies of development, implementation, and public engagement on this and other projects to further the efforts of a Sustainable Subbasin.

Thank you in advance for considering this application; we look forward to working with Madera County in better water and natural resource management in our region.

Sincerely, :,:;? /~ // ~~-t-..__,

Andrew Garcia, PE

,,,- . . ,,....,__..~

/

San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (on behalf of the Northern & Central Delta-Mendota Region GSP)

proposal full view · 2020-05-27 · madera county is an active groundwater sustainability agency...

Documents