Governance & Meetings

Napa Valley Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency

The Napa County Board of Supervisors established the Napa Valley Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) in December 2019. The Agency's Board of Directors consists of the Board of Supervisors.

GSA Role & Authority

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) established a new structure for managing California’s groundwater resources at the local level by local agencies. SGMA required Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to form in the State’s high- and medium-priority basins and subbasins to develop Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) by January 31, 2022. 

The Napa County GSA is currently working to enhance local groundwater management by establishing goals, objectives and standards for sustainable groundwater management in the Napa Valley Subbasin, a high-priority basin. The agency oversees the development and implementation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) that meets the requirements of SGMA. SGMA gives GSAs numerous tools and authorities to manage the groundwater and implement the objectives of the GSP. Some of the authorities the GSA may use include the authority to conduct groundwater investigations, determine the sustainable yield of the groundwater basin, measure and limit groundwater extraction, impose fees for groundwater management, mitigate against overdraft, implement rules and regulations, and enforce the terms of a GSP. Chapter 5 of SGMA describes the powers and authorities in greater detail.

SGMA Scope & Boundaries

The State defines the objective, Sustainable Groundwater Management, and the Sustainable Management Criteria Framework.

The GSA defines locally-relevant criteria and solutions for achieving Sustainable Groundwater Management within 20 years of GSP Adoption. “A (GSP) may, but is not required to, address undesirable results that occurred before, and have not been corrected by, January 1, 2015” (CA Water Code §10727.2).


GSA Charge and Authority Includes*

  • Subbasin-specific management
  • Manage the effects of groundwater conditions and groundwater extraction
  • Adaptive management and continuous refinement 
  • Impose well location, construction, and extraction requirements

GSA Charge and Authority Excludes

  • Management of groundwater outside the Subbasin
  • Water rights determinations
  • Land use policy and regulation
  • Management of surface water withdrawals

* Items listed here are for informational purposes and do not reflect the full scope of GSA charges and authorities provided under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Please see California Water Code Division 6 Part 2.74, including Chapter 5. “Powers and Authorities”.

GSA Meetings

  • Meetings typically occur in conjunction with the Napa County Board of Supervisor meetings 
  • GSA Directors meet at 1195 Third St., Suite 305, Napa CA 94559. Due to COVID-19 all meetings will be held online until further notice.
  • Public may participate virtually as per Napa County Public Health Order and in adherence to the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20:
  • Public may comment on any item that appears on the agenda or provide general public comment for any item or issue that does not appear on the agenda by email to [email protected], or by phone at (707)-299-1776.

GSA Meeting Agendas, Minutes, and Video

  • View the GSA’s Agendas and Minutes for current meetings (2021 to present) and past meetings (2020). The GSA agenda items are held in conjunction with the Board of Supervisor’s meetings.
  • Agendas are posted one week before each meeting.

Groundwater Sustainability Plan Advisory Committee 

The GSA formed the Groundwater Sustainability Plan Advisory Committee (GSPAC) in June 2020 and they met monthly from July 2020 through November 2021 to advise the GSA Board of Directors on the preparation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the Napa Valley Subbasin. There were 25 stakeholders on the GSPAC. The final draft GSP was submitted to the GSA Board of Directors on November 19, 2021.

GSPAC Membership

  • Connor Bennett
  • Michelle Benvenuto
  • Garrett Buckland
  • Michael Dooley
  • Joy Eldredge
  • Geoff Ellsworth
  • John Ferons
  • Dave Ficeli
  • Eric Fitz
  • Alan Galbraith
  • David Graves
  • Mike Hackett
  • Jeri Hansen
  • Lester Hardy
  • Jim Lincoln
  • Amber Manfree
  • Beth Milliken
  • Peter Nissen
  • Derek Rayner
  • Chris Sauer
  • Patrick Tokar
  • Suzanne von Rosenberg
  • Paul Warnock
  • Johnnie White
  • Robert Zlomke

GSPAC Meeting Agendas, Minutes, and Video

Stay connected! 

Join the Groundwater Email List for updates and opportunities to be informed of GSA meetings and activities.