In 2013, the Truckee Donner Public Utility District, Norstar Community Services District, and Placer County Water Agency (Local Water Agencies) collaborative adopted the 2013 Martis Valley Groundwater Management Plan (GMP, see document link below). Before the GMP was fully implemented, in 2014 California adopted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and the Martis Valley was subject to this new regulation as a Medium Priority Basin.  This put implementation of the GMP on hold.  The Truckee Donner Public Utility District, Northstar Community Services District, Placer County Water Agency, Town of Truckee, Nevada County and Placer County (Local SGMA Agencies) in the Martis Valley Groundwater Basin (MVGB) put forth an Alternative Submittal in December, 2016 in compliance with California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 (SGMA).  The local SGMA agencies hired a licensed engineering firm to certify the MVGB alternative submittal.

The Alternative Submittal and supporting document contain information on SGMA, the requirements for an alternative submittal, and a report certifying that the MVGB has operated within the sustainable yield for at least 25 years.  The MVGB Alternative Submittal was submitted in December, 2016 (along with a first-year Annual Report which was required despite on-going review by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) of the Alternative Submittal).

In early 2019, while Alternative Submittal review continued, DWR was required by review basin prioritization which was a criteria for being required to comply with the provision of SGMA.  The MVGB was, at the time 'Medium' priority which was the threshold for SGMA compliance.  The outcome of the DWR process was that the MVGB was re-prioritized to 'Very Low' and was no longer required to comply with SGMA.

The local SGMA agencies agreed to formally withdraw the Alternative Submittal from DWR consideration and to go back to the 2013 Martis Valley Groundwater Management Plan (GMP) framework which was previously collaboratively adopted by the Local Water Agencies with stakeholder involvement but never implemented due to the passage of SGMA. It was decided that the implementation of the 2013 Martis Valley Groundwater Management Plan in 2019 would re-start the clock during that year including the requirements for annual reports and a comprehensive update every five years.  The Local Water Agencies engaged consultant to provide annual reports for water years 2018 & 2019, 2020 & 2021, and 2022 (see document links below).  2024 is the year where a comprehensive update of the GMP is being undertaken.

 Historical documents for reference are below:

Martis Valley Groundwater Basin Annual Report - Water Year 2022

Martis Valley Groundwater Basin Annual Report - Water Years 2020 & 2021

Martis Valley Groundwater Basin Annual Report - Water Years 2018 & 2019

2013 Martis Valley Groundwater Basin GMP

Complete Alternative Submittal minus GEI Support Report

GEI Support Report

MVGB SGMA Alternative 2018 Annual Report

For questions or additional information, please contact the Truckee Donner PUD’s Public Information & Strategic Affairs Director.

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