NAPA COUNTY - The Napa Groundwater Sustainability Agency (NCGSA) is seeking public comment on multiple workplans related to groundwater sustainability and water conservation in the Napa Valley Subbasin, an aquifer designated as “high priority” by the California Department of Water Resources.
These workplans were identified as action items in the County’s 2022 Groundwater Sustainability Plan, which received state approval in January 2023. The primary objective of the 2022 plan is to attain sustainability in the Napa Valley Subbasin by 2042 through the implementation of projects and management actions. These workplans represent a significant milestone in the realization of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan and will serve as the foundation of the County’s efforts in the years ahead.
The public is encouraged to provide comments on the three workplans by January 30, 2024. Comments on the Community Engagement Plan should be submitted by November 30, 2024. All workplans and comment submission forms can be accessed on the County’s Groundwater Sustainability website.
The NCGSA will hold two in-person workshops and one webinar on the three workplans which will provide an overview of each plan, the work envisioned, and the expected outcomes to improve sustainability with the Napa Valley Subbasin. The public is invited to attend to learn more.
Workshop details:
December 11, 2023 - Register here
Location: Yountville Community Center (6516 Washington St., Yountville)
In-person only
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
December 12, 2023 - Register here
Virtual webinar
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
January 9, 2024 - Register here
Location: Napa County Library (580 Coombs St., Napa)
In-person only
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
These initiatives follow a series of multi-year droughts, followed by a year of above-average rainfall in 2023. The 2023 water year was characterized by the unusual occurrence of having both a Governor’s drought proclamation and a flood proclamation simultaneously in effect as the year concluded. In Napa County, eight of the last 10 years have been characterized as ‘dry’ to ‘very dry’. While groundwater conditions have improved somewhat, this underscores the need for residents to remain committed to long-term groundwater sustainability to help ensure a future that upholds the agricultural vitality and environmental stewardship of Napa County.
“Extreme weather conditions – whether it’s drought or a deluge – are a hallmark of climate change,” said Napa County’s Natural Resource Conservation Manager Jamison Crosby. “This requires all of us to make conservation a Napa way of life. Please take the time to share your input on these vital planning tools and help create a more resilient Napa County.”