MISSION

Through a collaborative process, develop recommendations designed to protect the health and viability of the central Sacramento County groundwater basin as a sustainable resource for both current users and future generations.

GOAL

The Groundwater Forum shall work collaboratively to develop recommendations with regard to groundwater management which effectively address the interests of stakeholders. These recommendations shall be forwarded to the Water Forum Successor Effort for review and approval and implementation by appropriate entities.

PROCESS

The Groundwater Forum’s process in formulating these recommendations will include five phases:

· Organization

· Education

· Resolution of issues

· Submission of recommendations to the Water Forum Successor Effort

· Implementation

Assuming that a Groundwater Forum participant (and his/her stakeholder organization, as appropriate) concurs in the final outcome of the negotiation, they will actively support the recommendations in the public policy decision-making process and subsequent implementation.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Groundwater Forum participants shall be guided by the following principles which are agreed upon at the outset of the discussions.

The Groundwater Forum shall:

· Include representation of agricultural interests, agricultural/residential groundwater users, business, environmental/community interests, local government / public agencies and water purveyors;

· Promote water conservation and prudent resource management, including supporting opportunities to consider use of reclaimed water;

· Employ the best scientific information available;

· Support sustainable economic vitality, environmental values and quality of life in the central County area as well as the surrounding region;

· Support equitable conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater supplies, including groundwater recharge opportunities;

· Support the protection and optimization of existing water rights and entitlements;

· Consider the impacts of existing federal, state and local laws and regulations;

· Take into account the provisions agreed upon and the obligations undertaken as a result of the Water Forum Agreement;

· Respect the autonomy of the water purveyors which serve the central County area; and

· Strive to promote countywide cooperation in groundwater management.

Participants recognize that these collaborative discussions are a dynamic process and may be modified by the participants as the process evolves.