Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Santa Ynez River Valley Groundwater Basin, Central Management Area

This Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is prepared in accordance with the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and covers the Central Management Area (CMA) of the Santa Ynez River Valley Groundwater Basin (Basin or SYRVGB) located in coastal central California. There is one principal aquifer in the CMA: the Buellton Aquifer which covers the Buellton Upland and the older formations that lie under the Santa Ynez River alluvium near the City of Buellton. The Santa Ynez River is the primary surface water source within the Basin. The underflow of the Santa Ynez River is considered part of the river flow and is managed as surface water pursuant to the administrative authority and jurisdiction of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) over waters flowing in known and definite channels. The analyses conducted for this GSP indicate that current Basin conditions are sustainable and no undesirable results (defined as significant and unreasonable impacts to sustainability indicators) are occurring. Potential undesirable results have been identified and specific minimum thresholds have been developed to help ensure that undesirable results do not occur under future conditions. Potential project operations and management actions designed to maintain and improve groundwater conditions and sustainability have been identified and are described within this GSP.