Wednesday, June 9, 2021


8:30-8:40 AM

Conference Welcome

Marina Deligiannis, 2021 GSA Summit Conference Chair 


8:40-9:10 AM

Opening Keynote

SGMA Implementation and its Legal Challenges

Brad Herrema, Brownstein Hyatt Farber, Schrek, LLP 

Brad Herrema’s forte and long-term focus include strategic water supply planning, water right permitting and regulatory compliance, litigation including water right adjudications, transactional negotiations and due diligence, as well as water quality, environmental and species concerns spanning every aspect of California and national water law. For nearly 15 years, Brad has been involved in many of the nation’s most significant and complex water matters, predominantly in the western United States. A strategic business partner to his clients, Brad serves as special water counsel to private corporations, water purveyors such as cities and special districts, investor-owned utilities and large landowners, golf courses, resorts and energy and infrastructure projects.

Brad has extensive experience in groundwater matters, including development of new groundwater supplies in adjudicated and non-adjudicated basins, groundwater right adjudications, local groundwater management, groundwater storage and complex groundwater litigation. He is actively engaged in implementation of California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014, including representation of groundwater sustainability agencies, development of groundwater sustainability plans, and protection of water users’ water rights and reliable access to groundwater supplies.


9:10-9:20 AM

Break 


9:20-10:50 AM

SGMA Allocation & Trading - Challenges, Opportunities, and Implementation

Moderators:

  • Bryce McAteer, WestWater Research
  • Anona Dutton, EKI

Panelists:

  • Eric Robinson,  Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard
  • Rogelio Caudillo, Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency
  • Soapy Mulholland, Sopac & Associates

SGMA requires the development of a water budget and plan to manage a basin to achieve its sustainability goal. There can be tension between the development of water budgets that reflect how water physically moves into and out of a basin and the water rights framework which dictates who has rights to certain quantities and types of water. This potential tension becomes paramount when GSAs consider the development of groundwater allocation and transfer programs as a means to achieve sustainability. The integration of groundwater allocations and trading is both novel and crucial to the successful implementation of SGMA in many of the state’s basins. This panel of practitioners, legal experts, and stakeholders will discuss the challenges, opportunities, and ongoing implementation of these programs in some of California’s groundwater basins.


10:50-11:00 AM

Break 


11:00 AM-12:30 PM

Long-Term Outreach and Engagement: Sustaining Meaningful Communication

Moderator: 

  • David Ceppos, Sacramento State University

Panelists:

  • Kassy Chauhan, North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency
  • Marina Deligiannis, County of Lake Water Resources Department
  • Angela Islas, Self-Help Enterprises
  • Austin Miller, Sloughhouse Resource Conservation District
  • Kelly Peterson, Butte County Water and Resource Conservation Department

GSAs are well versed in SGMA regulations and the requirements for outreach and communication; they understand the importance of diverse representation and can navigate the difficult conversations during GSP development. But what happens after the GSP submittal deadline? It takes thoughtful planning to keep the conversation going and sustain local engagement and participation, as communities work towards sustainability. This session will explore the importance of strategic long-term communication and engagement, how to avoid conversation fatigue, and the tools and resources available to ensure GSA outreach and engagement efforts are meaningful and sustainable beyond the GSP submittal deadline. Stakeholders, consultants, and GSA representatives will provide experience, knowledge, and perspectives on effective long-term stakeholder outreach and engagement. 


12:30-1:00 PM

Communities and Communication 

Moderator: 

  • Katie Duncan, Stantec

This 30-minute session is meant to be a continuation of the Long-Term Outreach and Engagement session. The session will be structured as a facilitated conversation where GSA managers, consultants, and stakeholders can connect and discuss specific challenges related to community engagement and on-going communications. This session will provide an opportunity for networking and assisting GSAs in accessing and using available engagement tools. Join us!


4:30-5:45 PM

Networking Reception

Not just another Zoom call! Interact in real-time just by joining a virtual table.


Thursday, June 10, 2021


8:30-9:10 AM

Opening Panel Discussion

GRA's Fourth Annual GSA Summit is proud to present a panel of speakers from the Groundwater Leadership Forum (GLF), a diverse group of non-profit organizations and nonpartisan academic institutions convened by the Water Foundation dedicated to the sustainability of California’s water resources.

The GLF formed to advance the implementation and realize the vision of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014. Their member organizations have legal, technical, scientific, and practical expertise that informs our engagement in the implementation of SGMA. Many of their groups worked to shape the legislation that became SGMA and are all working to achieve the law’s vision of sustainably managed groundwater that supports our economy, communities, and environment

NGO Findings - Review of 2020 Groundwater Sustainability Plans

Moderator:

  • Marina Deligiannis, County of Lake Water Resources Department

Panelists:

  • Melissa Rohde, The Nature Conservancy
  • Pablo Ortiz,  Union of Concerned Scientists
  • Ngodoo Atume, Clean Water Action California

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requires Groundwater Sustainability Agencies to consider the interests of all beneficial uses and users of groundwater. However, groundwater needs for historically marginalized communities, the environment, and climate change can be difficult to quantify and integrate into Groundwater Sustainability Plans without stakeholder input. A group of diverse NGOs representing these stakeholder interests will present lessons learned from the 2020 Groundwater Sustainability Plans and recommendations for those GSAs preparing plans for submittal in January 2022. These findings and recommendations are a result of a review of 31 Groundwater Sustainability Plans for their consideration of small drinking water systems, groundwater dependent ecosystems, and disadvantaged communities under a changing climate. 


9:10-9:20 AM

Break


9:20-10:50 AM

Regulatory Agency Overview

Join us for an informative session where representatives from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) will provide an overview and update on California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).

Moderator:

  • Matthew Zidar, San Joaquin Department of Public Works

Panelists:

  • Craig Altare, California Department of Water Resources
  • Keith Wallace, California Department of Water Resources
  • Sarah Sugar, State Water Resources Control Board

10:50-11:00 AM

Break


11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Water Quality and SGMA: Data Challenges and Coordination with Existing Programs

Moderators:

  • Lisa Porta, Montgomery & Associates
  • Anona Dutton, EKI

Panelists:

  • Justine Massey, Community Water Center
  • Sierra Ryan, Santa Cruz County
  • Edgar Tellez Foster, Chino Basin Watermaster

As GSPs are being developed and implemented, GSAs grapple with their role in water quality data collection, management, enforcement, and how they fit in with other existing water quality programs. This session will explore questions around: 1) water quality data collection, analysis and gaps, 2) how water quality affects water quantity and availability and what it means for implementation, 3) regulatory and stakeholder coordination and education. Speakers from various regions will provide their perspectives.

 


12:30-1:00 PM 

Regional Breakout Sessions

  • Nor Cal: Moderator – Marina Deligiannis, Student – Brittney Maine
  • Central Cal: Moderator – Brian Lockwood, Student – Claire Osei
  • So Cal: Moderator – Christy Kennedy, Student - Bedig Charkhutian

The Regional Breakout Session will allow participants to participate in engaging conversation with colleagues in their identified regions and have the floor to discuss challenges, resources and hot topics in their respective regions. Participants will have the opportunity to join either Northern California, Central California, or Southern California breakout rooms.