CENTRAL SACRAMENTO COUNTY GROUNDWATER FORUM

 

Local Government / Public Agencies Interest Group

City of Sacramento

Issues and Interests Statement

 

In the Central Area, the City uses primarily surface water. (We do have a few wells but these are used mostly to irrigate parks.) Consequently, we are participating in the Groundwater Forum primarily as a political entity. However, the City will have surface water treatment capacity that could be utilized in a conjunctive use plan.

 

·        The City is interested in fostering political cooperation among the appropriate entities and agencies so that concerns about the groundwater basin can be effectively addressed. We signed the memorandum of understanding which created the Sacramento North Area Groundwater Management Authority (now SGA). We are certainly willing to assist in any agreed upon groundwater management arrangements that could benefit the Central Area as well.

 

·        The City is open to being an active part of the solution. We already have a wheeling agreement with the County of Sacramento and will consider additional wheeling agreements with other agencies. Also, the City has a water wholesaling agreement with California-American Water Company (formerly Citizens Utilities Company of California), and will consider additional wholesaling agreements within our place of use. We’d like to maximize use of our expanded water treatment plant capacity. Water from that plant could be used in adjacent areas and we believe that that would be far less expensive for adjacent communities than having to build their own additional treatment plant capacity.

 

·        The City is ready to assist in creating an effective conjunctive use plan as a surface water supplier (not as a groundwater pumper).

 

·        Finally, we believe that equitable sharing of costs is of fundamental importance. Equity should be based on the benefit received and all participants in any groundwater management arrangements should have the assurance that equity will be maintained in the long-term. Such assurance will contribute to the stability and continuity of the groundwater management plan.