Cal. Code Regs. tit. 23 § 357.2

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 357.2 - Interbasin Agreements

Two or more Agencies may enter into an agreement to establish compatible sustainability goals and understanding regarding fundamental elements of the Plans of each Agency as they relate to sustainable groundwater management. Interbasin agreements may be included in the Plan to support a finding that implementation of the Plan will not adversely affect an adjacent basin's ability to implement its Plan or impede the ability to achieve its sustainability goal. Interbasin agreements should facilitate the exchange of technical information between Agencies and include a process to resolve disputes concerning the interpretation of that information. Interbasin agreements may include any information the participating Agencies deem appropriate, such as the following:

(a) General information:
(1) Identity of each basin participating in and covered by the terms of the agreement.
(2) A list of the Agencies or other public agencies or other entities with groundwater management responsibilities in each basin.
(3) A list of the Plans, Alternatives, or adjudicated areas in each basin.
(b) Technical information:
(1) An estimate of groundwater flow across basin boundaries, including consistent and coordinated data, methods and assumptions.
(2) An estimate of stream-aquifer interactions at boundaries.
(3) A common understanding of the geology and hydrology of the basins and the hydraulic connectivity as it applies to the Agency's determination of groundwater flow across basin boundaries and description of the different assumptions utilized by different Plans and how the Agencies reconciled those differences.
(4) Sustainable management criteria and a monitoring network that would confirm that no adverse impacts result from the implementation of the Plans of any party to the agreement. If minimum thresholds or measurable objectives differ substantially between basins, the agreement should specify how the Agencies will reconcile those differences and manage the basins to avoid undesirable results. The Agreement should identify the differences that the parties consider significant and include a plan and schedule to reduce uncertainties to collectively resolve those uncertainties and differences.
(c) A description of the process for identifying and resolving conflicts between Agencies that are parties to the agreement.
(d) Interbasin agreements submitted to the Department shall be posted on the Department's website.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 23, § 357.2

1. New section filed 8-15-2016 as an emergency exempt from review by OAL pursuant to Water Code section 10733.2(d); operative 8-15-2016. Pursuant to Water Code section 10733.2(d), these regulations shall remain in effect until revised by the Department of Water Resources (Register 2016, No. 34).

Note: Authority cited: Section 10733.2, Water Code. Reference: Sections 10727.2, 10733 and 10733.2, Water Code.

1. New section filed 8-15-2016 as an emergency exempt from review by OAL pursuant to Water Code section 10733.2(d); operative 8-15-2016. Pursuant to Water Code section 10733.2(d), these regulations shall remain in effect until revised by the Department of Water Resources (Register 2016, No. 34).