WATER BANK PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
The Regional Water Authority is engaging the public in a discussion about how water banking could expand and operate in the Sacramento region.
The goal of the Water Bank public engagement process is to share information, answer questions and gather input through a series of public meetings, called Stakeholder Forums.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Notice of Public Scoping Comment Period (June 18, 2024). Click to learn more.
WATER BANK Q&A CONNECT
The Water Bank Program Team is addressing questions provided by stakeholders. Questions may include those from a single stakeholder, or the Program Team may combine similar questions and provide comprehensive answers about the Water Bank. Questions and answers are posted here on this page. Additional questions may be submitted to the Water Bank program.
Email questions to [email protected].
You can find questions from previous weeks here.
Theme: The role of “leave behind” and “loss” in sustainable groundwater management
Question: How will the Water Bank contribute to the overall sustainability of the groundwater basin through “leave behind” and “loss”?
The Sacramento Regional Water Bank (Water Bank) aims to expand conjunctive use by advancing water banking operations throughout the region to improve long-term regional reliability, provide statewide water supply opportunities when possible, and support healthy ecosystem function on the Lower American River.
To meet this goal, the operation of the Water Bank in both the North and South American subbasins includes the commitment to recognize and account for recharged water that may not be recoverable (or lost), as well as purposely dedicate a volume of recharged water to be left behind in the groundwater basins.
This commitment helps to ensure that there is more recharge of water than extraction of water associated with Water Bank operations. This not only aids local and regional groundwater sustainability but contributes to mitigating the effects of climate change. For this reason, the commitment of “leave behind” and monitoring and accounting for “loss” will play crucial roles in the Water Bank.
“Leave behind” refers to the intentional policy decision of dedicating a volume of recharged water in the aquifer to help ensure long-term sustainability. For example, the Water Bank plans to implement a leave-behind policy for agencies storing water with the intent of transferring it out of the basin after local needs are met. This policy mandates that a portion of the stored water remains in the basin and is never extracted as part of Water Bank operations. The primary goal of a “leave behind” is to build a reserve of groundwater that contributes to the long-term stability and resilience of the region’s water supply.
The concept of “loss” refers to the physical movement of water out of the basin, which the Water Bank will analyze using scientific methods. Loss is determined by monitoring and accounting for water that migrates underground, potentially moving between basin boundaries, and as water that may seep into river systems. By doing so, the Water Bank aims to effectively account for these losses so that when banked water is later extracted, Water Bank managers will know more precisely the actual volume of water that remains and may be available for beneficial uses.
While monitoring and prior modeling studies are already in place, more comprehensive groundwater modeling is underway to fully understand basin characteristics and quantify these losses. The amount and rate of losses will vary over time as the basin is managed sustainably and the groundwater table increases. Therefore, it is essential to continuously monitor and periodically update the loss rate through modeling analysis.
Ultimately, the commitment of “leave behind” and monitoring “loss” are integral to a responsible and successful operation of the Water Bank. By intentionally leaving groundwater in the aquifer and scientifically monitoring and managing losses, the Water Bank promotes long-term sustainability and resilience of the groundwater system, helping to ensure a reliable water supply for the future.
Foundational Document on Governance Structure for the Sacramento Regional Water Bank
The Regional Water Authority (RWA) has released a second foundational document for the Sacramento Regional Water Bank, marking another significant step forward in defining the organization, management, and operation of the Water Bank to enhance climate resiliency and environmental stewardship in the Sacramento region.
Titled “Governance: Organizational Framework, Functions, and Associated Roles and Responsibilities,” this document delineates the essential functions and activities vital for the successful implementation of the Water Bank. It introduces an organizational framework and outlines associated roles and responsibilities embedded within the Water Bank’s structure.
You can read the full document here.
Highlights include:
- Functional Areas: The document categorizes necessary activities into four functional areas—Policy and Legal, Operations, Administrative, and Outreach activities. These are informed by established guidelines and regional experiences, particularly from recent groundwater substitution transfers.
- Organizational Framework: The Water Bank’s implementation activities are envisioned to be carried out by three primary parties: Participating Agencies, Coordinating Body, and Planning/Technical Support. Importantly, the framework is designed to facilitate effective collaboration without overshadowing or restricting the autonomy of existing agencies.
- Roles and Responsibilities: Detailed tables in the document outline the roles and responsibilities of each party across various implementation activity groupings. This transparency aims to foster clear accountability and efficient collaboration.
- Key External Entities: The Water Bank will engage with external entities such as banking partners, regulatory authorities, and stakeholders, with the document defining the roles of these entities.
The “Governance: Organizational Framework, Functions, and Associated Roles and Responsibilities” document is part of a series aimed at introducing and explaining the processes and considerations involved in implementing the Water Bank. The documents cover different aspects:
- Vision and Strategy: Released in June 2023, outlining goals, objectives, principles, and constraints. You can find the GOPC document here.
- Structure: The current document, focusing on the organizational framework, functions, and associated roles and responsibilities.
- Operations Support Tools: Will cover water accounting, monitoring, and reporting.
- Agreements and Finance: Will describe the framework to encourage water banking and establish roles and responsibilities in the financial aspects.
Please note that “Governance: Organizational Framework, Functions, and Associated Roles and Responsibilities” is “living document,” open to periodic revisions as Water Bank implementation progresses.
WATER BANK STAKEHOLDER FORUMS
Materials from the First Stakeholder Forum Held October 26, 2022
The first Stakeholder Forum explored key topic areas such as water sources and management in the Sacramento region; projected impacts of climate change on the region’s water resources; how water banking works; how a Water Bank could help the region adapt to climate change; and other topics.
Materials from the Second Stakeholder Forum Held February 13, 2023
The second Stakeholder Forum explored the proposed goal, objectives, principles and constraints for the Sacramento Regional Water Bank, a groundwater storage program utilizing the expansive reservoir under the urban core for storing water during wet times for use during dry times.
- Recording of Stakeholder Forum #2
- PowerPoint presentation slides
- Questions submitted during Stakeholder Forum #2
- Proposed Goal, Objectives, Principles, and Constraints
Materials from the Third Stakeholder Forum Held December 12, 2023
The third Stakeholder Forum provided an update about progress on the Water Bank and plans for 2024 and beyond.