<p>Groundwater Sustainability Plans Public Hearings Scheduled </p><p> </p>

Sonoma County’s three groundwater sustainability agencies, Petaluma Valley, Sonoma Valley and Santa Rosa Plain, will hold public hearings to consider adoption of the Final Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) in early December. 

The GSPs assess the conditions of the groundwater basin, analyze the basin’s sustainability over a 50-year period, and identify projects and actions needed to ensure the basin is sustainable by 2042.

“The Santa Rosa Plain GSP reflects the unique characteristics of the groundwater basin, which includes the county’s largest city, agriculture, rural residents, Tribes, and important natural resources,” said Santa Rosa Councilmember Tom Schwedhelm, Chair of the Santa Rosa Plain GSA.

The final plans take into consideration feedback received on the three draft GSPs since December 2020 and during a public comment period that closed on October 31, 2021.

“People have submitted hundreds of written and verbal comments on the Sonoma Valley GSP, including extensive feedback from a stakeholder-based Advisory Committee and the GSA Board,” said Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin, Chair of the Sonoma Valley GSA. “The comments received reflect the importance of the plan and concerns they have regarding groundwater resources. We look forward to addressing these concerns by working with all members of the community who share the GSA’s goal of better understanding and securing this shared precious resource.”

If the GSPs are adopted by the respective Boards of Directors, the GSAs will submit the plans to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for final approval.  DWR will begin its review process with a 75-day public comment period and has up to two years to approve the plans. Implementation of the GSPs must begin in 2022, while the plans are still under review.

“The GSA is looking forward to the transition from planning to implementation, and to taking action to ensure groundwater is available into the future,” said Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt, Chair of the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA).

Public Hearing Information

Sonoma Valley

Monday, December 6
Meeting will start at 4 p.m., and the public hearing will begin no earlier than 4:15 p.m.
The meeting will be held virtually, via Zoom at https://scwa-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/87939906214?pwd=QXRiRmVtMEFvWjl5cm42VUNkbkpXUT09 
Go to https://sonomavalleygroundwater.org for more information.

Petaluma Valley

Wednesday, December 8
Meeting will start at 5:30 p.m., and the public hearing will begin no earlier than 5:45 p.m.
The meeting will be held virtually, via Zoom at https://scwa-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/82780290360?pwd=SVl4Q2hQSWJiTndXeUNZM3FVREYzUT09
Go to https://petalumavalleygroundwater.org for more information.

Santa Rosa Plain

Thursday, December 9
Meeting will start at 1:00 p.m., and the public hearing will begin no earlier than 1:15 p.m.
The meeting will be held virtually, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83335419723?pwd=U21LVU1WN0NtSXMzWnIrT1kwY2Fzdz09.
Go to https://santarosaplaingroundwater.org for more information.

The GSPs will be available online on December 2 on the GSA websites (see links above).
Hard copies of the GSPs will be available for review at the following locations:

• Petaluma Valley: Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma, CA 94952
• Sonoma Valley:  Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 W Napa St., Sonoma, CA 95476
• Santa Rosa Plain:  Central Santa Rosa Library, 211 E St., Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Copies of all three GSPs will be available for review weekdays at Sonoma Water, 404 Aviation Blvd., Santa Rosa, 95403.