SSJ & EPC Water Districts: Fall Newsletter

Dear Community Member,


Welcome to the Shandon-San Juan (SSJ) & Estrella-El Pomar-Creston (EPC) Water Districts joint newsletter! 


We are excited to have a shared space to keep in touch with our members and community. Our hope is to provide updates and information about our efforts to improve the health of the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, as well as create a place to enrich stakeholder engagement in the sustainability process.


The SSJ and EPC districts formed in 2017 with a shared mission: to give Northern San Luis Obispo County residents, farmers and landowners a voice in shaping the future management of the Paso Basin. Since the passage of California's landmark Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), we have collaborated with the County, the City of Paso Robles, and the San Miguel Community Services District to work on solutions and initiatives that will collectively build resilience and sustainability for the basin.


Please stay engaged with us! We would love to hear your feedback on ways we can make this newsletter most valuable to you. If there are specific topics you would like to see us focus on, let us know by sending us an email at admin@ssjwd.org.


In friendship,


Matt Turrentine, Director, SSJ Water District

Hilary Graves, Vice President, EPC Water District
 

News & Updates
 
 

EPC Introduces Real-Time Well Monitoring Network


The EPC Water District continues to monitor water levels in wells in the Paso Basin and has recently introduced continuous groundwater monitoring, or "real time" monitoring.


Three wells in the Paso Robles Airport and El Pomar areas are being monitored in real-time using the Well Bubbler technology to take measurements every 15 minutes. These wells have shown significant fluctuations, especially during irrigation season.


The ongoing data demonstrates the value of real-time monitoring to enhancing our understanding of the basin.


Learn more

EPC & SSJ Support PBCC Cost of Service Rate Study


As we move toward the common goal of bringing balance to our Basin, it is important to explore solutions to pay for the process.


Earlier this year, the Paso Basin Cooperative Committee (PBCC) contracted with SCI Consulting to produce a rate study. This analysis identifies optimal rate and fee structures, including revenue generation approaches, cost apportionment options and fee implementation strategies.


The study will include options to incorporate stakeholder engagement, community input and PBCC member preferences.


Learn more

SSJ Seeks Rights to Nacimiento and Salinas Reservoir Flood Flows


The SSJ Water District is actively pursuing sustainability in the Basin by submitting two water right applications to the State Water Resources Control Board.


These applications aim to divert unappropriated flood flows from the Salinas River Watershed — specifically from the Nacimiento and Salinas reservoirs — during high flow events. This water would benefit the Basin by providing supplemental water for groundwater recharge and irrigation.


SSJ will regularly discuss potential pipeline alignments that minimize impacts to landowners in access right of ways.


Learn More

EPC & SSJ Adopt Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budgets


On June 26 and July 24, respectively, the EPC and SSJ Board of Directors approved their Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budgets, outlining how funds will be allocated to support local water management efforts.


 A key part of these budgets is the Paso Basin Cooperative Committee Memorandum of Agreement, which defines how different Paso Basin groundwater sustainability agencies will share costs. The percentages for cost-sharing are as follows:


  • County of SLO - 32.3%
  • EPC - 29.3%
  • SSJ - 20.2%
  • City of Paso Robles - 15.2%
  • San Miguel CSD - 3%


View the EPC budget

View the SSJ budget
 

SGMA Progress
 

What is the Paso Basin Cooperative Committee?


Purpose

The purpose of the Paso Basin Cooperative Committee (PBCC), formed in 2017, is to collectively develop and implement one Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the entire Paso Robles Groundwater Basin. The five local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) share a common goal of cost-effective sustainable groundwater management that considers the interests and concerns of all groundwater uses. Through the PBCC, the GSAs work together to protect groundwater as a vital resource and comply with the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).


GSA Members


GSP Implementation

The PBCC is working to position you, your neighboring landowners and all groundwater users to achieve groundwater sustainability together by 2040, as mandated by SGMA. With the state's approval of the GSP in June 2023, the PBCC is now executing implementation strategies (Section 9 of the GSP). In 2022, the Paso Basin was awarded a $7.6 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources for the implementation of its GSP. Some of the projects and studies underway include:



We’ll continue providing updates on our collective efforts and achievements in future newsletters. Stay tuned!

What's on Tap?
 

Upcoming Events
 

October

9
 

Estrella El-Pomar-Creston Water District Board Meeting

3:00 p.m.

Windfall Farms Conference Room

4715 Flying Paster Ln, Paso Robles, CA

October

23
 

Shandon-San Juan Board of Directors Regular Meeting

9:00 a.m. Illy Lodge at Sunnyslope Farms

3385 Truesdale Road, Shandon, CA

November

13
 

Estrella El-Pomar-Creston Water District Board Meeting

3:00 p.m.

Windfall Farms Conference Room

4715 Flying Paster Ln, Paso Robles, CA

November

20
 

Shandon-San Juan Board of Directors Regular Meeting

9:00 a.m. Illy Lodge at Sunnyslope Farms

3385 Truesdale Road, Shandon, CA

November

20
 

Paso Basin Cooperative Committee Board Meeting

4:00 p.m.

Paso Robles City Council Chambers

1000 Spring Street, Paso Robles, CA

December

11
 

Estrella El-Pomar-Creston Water District Board Meeting

3:00 p.m.

Windfall Farms Conference Room

4715 Flying Paster Ln, Paso Robles, CA

Board Meeting Recaps
 

SSJ Water District


July 24, 2024, Regular Meeting:

  • Authorized the levy and collection of property assessments for FY 2024-25. The assessment levels remain the same as the previous fiscal year. Assessments are due no later than January 24, 2025.
  • The District will re-submit applications to the State Water Resources Control Board to secure unappropriated water from the Salinas and Nacimiento watersheds. To access this water, the District must first obtain permission from property owners where its infrastructure is needed. The Board approved Resolution 22-002 reaffirming its commitment to conduct outreach to landowners.
  • SSJ continues to take monthly readings of nearly 70 wells within the District’s Groundwater Level Monitoring Network.


September, 25, 2024, Regular Meeting

  • GSI Water Solutions, Inc. presented an overview of the five-year periodic evaluation of the Paso Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan, which is due to the Department of Water Resources in January 2025. 

EPC Water District


August 21, 2024, Regular Meeting:

  • Approved sending a letter to the Paso Basin Cooperative Committee (PBCC) and County asking for clarifications about the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program, along with suggestions to improve community engagement.
  • Discussed a letter from the County sent to some District landowners, requesting their inclusion in a groundwater monitoring network. 151 wells are being sought for inclusion in the County's network.
  • Received an update on the Real-time Groundwater Monitoring program. Currently, there are three wells participating in this program, and several more are expected to join.
  • Reviewed the District’s financial status, noting that annual assessments sent in mid-July were significantly higher due to the five-year review of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan and the District's shared costs with PBCC partners.
  • Discussed the District's interest in revising the County's Agricultural Offset Ordinance to ensure property owners are not incentivized to irrigate just to maintain their pumping rights.
 

Thank you!
 
 

EPCWD.ORG

SSJWD.ORG
 

Shandon-San Juan & Estrella-El Pomar-Creston Water Districts | PO Box 1499 | Paso Robles, CA 93447 US

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