Top 3 Key Takeaways
Groundwater Monitoring Wells - Urgent Timeline for Implementation: The Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Authority has ARPA funding to drill new monitoring wells but faces a critical deadline of the end of 2026 to spend the money or risk losing it. Kleinfelder identified 33 potential well locations across GSAs to fill data gaps, with each GSA having 30 days to review and provide feedback on proposed sites in their jurisdiction. The project aims to address chronic groundwater level declines and improve monitoring of interconnected surface waters and groundwater-dependent ecosystems.
New Executive Director Appointed as DWR Point of Contact: Julia Berry was unanimously approved as the new Executive Director and designated as the Department of Water Resources point of contact for the Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Subbasin. Berry has been working since July 16th to get operations up to speed, including fixing website issues, uploading the 2024 annual report, and coordinating with contractors like Kleinfelder and Condor for monitoring activities.
GSAs Must Prepare for Individual Well Site Selection Process: Each GSA will need to actively participate in identifying suitable monitoring well locations within their boundaries, with some GSAs having up to 7 potential locations to choose from. GSAs should prepare existing monitoring well maps and be ready to suggest alternative sites if the proposed locations don't work, as funding constraints will limit the total number of wells that can be drilled.
Additional Key Takeaways
The authority is developing a domestic well mitigation program implementation plan after previously adopting the policy framework.
Stantec will provide free facilitation services and public outreach materials funded by DWR, including translation services for English, Punjabi, and Spanish.
City of Stockton will hold a groundwater recharge project groundbreaking ceremony on September 25th.
DWR announced a new groundwater demand management network similar to FloodMAR for sharing best practices across agencies.
CASGEM monitoring will be merged into the SGMA Monitoring Network starting in October.
Fall groundwater forum scheduled for October 15th and FloodMAR forum for November 5-6.
Some GSAs expressed interest in having multiple monitoring wells within their jurisdictions beyond the minimum proposed locations.
The selection criteria for monitoring wells will consider factors like data gap filling, accessibility, landowner willingness, and addressing multiple undesirable results.
Board Approvals
Engage with Your GSA Contact your local GSA representative or Julia Berry for questions about the monitoring well program or other groundwater management issues. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for October 8, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at the San Joaquin County Council of Governments building. Agendas and minutes are available at ESJGroundwater.org.
