Page 195 - Yucaipa Sustainable Groundwater Management Agency - Yucaipa SGMA

Iris Priestaf, PhD

Dr. Priestaf worked closely with ACWD staff in analyzing these issues and preparing responses
to comments in the context of ACWD’s ongoing, adaptive management.
Sustainable Groundwater Management, City of Corona
Todd Groundwater prepared the City of Corona groundwater management plan, which was
adopted in 2008; Dr. Priestaf served as internal reviewer. She since has advised on subsequent
work, including feasibility studies of potential production well sites, assessment of
groundwater recharge locations and evaluation of salt loading. Currently Todd Groundwater
is assisting the City in compliance with SGMA, including preparation of a successful application
to modify local groundwater basin boundaries. This application involved documentation of
the local hydrogeology, groundwater agencies, management activities, and explanation of
how the basin boundary changes would enhance groundwater management. Dr. Priestaf
provided SGMA advice and internal review.

Groundwater Management Plan, City of East Palo Alto
Dr. Priestaf served as project manager for the Groundwater Management Plan for the City,
which long relies solely on imported water. Recognizing the need for water supply reliability
and additional supplies, the City embarked on groundwater development and management.
Although the City overlies only a portion of a low‐priority basin, Dr. Priestaf guided the effort
to fulfill plan requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA),
including public hearings, stakeholder and agency outreach, description of the physical
setting, presentation of maps, definition of management issues, identification of objectives
and actions, and development of a monitoring program. The management plan and
monitoring program address all the SGMA sustainability indicators including groundwater
levels and storage, saltwater intrusion, groundwater quality, subsidence and surface water‐
groundwater interactions. The management plan is the first in the San Mateo Plain
Groundwater Basin.
Scotts Valley Groundwater Management, Scotts Valley Water District (SCVWD)
For many years, Iris Priestaf was project manager for SVWD management of the Scotts Valley
groundwater basin in Santa Cruz County. This active AB 3030 groundwater management
program has included groundwater exploration and hydrogeologic investigations, and
development and maintenance of a comprehensive water resources monitoring program that
was featured in the California Department of Water Resources bulletin California
Groundwater. The program also involved evaluation of the perennial yield, updating and
application of a regional computer model, evaluation of potential artificial recharge projects,
and initiation of a water recycling program. Dr. Priestaf also prepared annual reports
addressing groundwater quantity and quality, and management activities. Installation of
dedicated monitoring wells and evaluation of hydrogeology was funded by an AB 303 grant
obtained through a joint effort by the District and Todd.
Peer Review of Water Balances, Kern County Water Agency
Dr. Priestaf served as project manager for a peer review of water balance methodologies used
by Kern County Water Agency Improvement District 4. Review of the groundwater level
monitoring program addressed field techniques, timing of measurements, distribution of
monitored wells, data compilation and QA/QC procedures, and techniques used to document
changes in storage. Results of the review were documented in a Hydrogeologic Balance

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