Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency's Multi-Level Deep Monitoring Well Project
Summary
SCH Number
2021100091
Public Agency
Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency
(GSA)
Document Title
Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency's Multi-Level Deep Monitoring Well Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/6/2021
Document Description
In 2014, the State of California adopted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) to help manage its groundwater. According to SGMA, local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) must be formed for all high and medium priority groundwater basins in the state. These GSAs must develop and implement Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) for managing and using groundwater. A major component of each GSP is the development of adequate groundwater monitoring networks to set a baseline for current groundwater levels and determine the sustainable yield of the basin, as well as track the effectiveness of sustainable management criteria as developed by the GSAs to meet the groundwater sustainability management goals in the GSPs.
The Petaluma Valley GSA received a $1 million grant from California’s Department of Water Resources through the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68). One of the grant components is the planning, design, and installation of up to four, multi-level groundwater monitoring wells drilled to depths of up to 500 feet within the GSP area. The specific focus is to provide monitoring data in areas identified as groundwater data gaps with important features such as fault zones, groundwater basin boundaries, baylands, or proximity to areas of substantial groundwater pumping.
The Proposed Project would improve the Petaluma Valley’s GSA’s monitoring networks through the installation of up to four, multi-level monitoring wells within the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Basin. These wells would range from approximately 200 to 500 feet in depth and each well casing would have a diameter of 2.5 inches. The wells would be installed within boreholes with a maximum diameter of 16 inches. The duration of construction for the entire Proposed Project is anticipated to be six to eight months. The monitoring wells will provide groundwater information to support and implement long-term sustainable groundwater planning and management, and inform projects to help the GSP meet the sustainable groundwater management goals of the Basin.
Contact Information
Name
Ann DuBay
Agency Name
Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Petaluma
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
Citywide, Countywide, Northern California
Other Information
Four locations within the Petaluma Valley located at 5999 Old Redwood Hwy, Penngrove, 870 Cherry St, Petaluma, 2401 E. Washington St, Petaluma, 7650 Lakeville Hwy, Petaluma, Sonoma County, CA
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines 15306: Information Collection
Reasons for Exemption
The installation of multi-level deep monitoring wells would not result in any change in existing environmental conditions. The project consists of data collection, research, and resource evaluation activities that do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental, historical, or scenic resource. There are no cumulative effects from the project or unusual circumstances which would lead to a significant effect on the environment. The project is part of a study that may result in a future project, which has not yet been approved, funded, or adopted.
County Clerk
Sonoma
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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