Section 10933.

(a) On or before January 1, 2012, the department shall commence to identify the extent of monitoring of groundwater elevations that is being undertaken within each basin and subbasin.

(b) The department shall prioritize groundwater basins and subbasins for the purpose of implementing this section. In prioritizing the basins and subbasins, the department shall, to the extent data are available, consider all of the following:

(1) The population overlying the basin or subbasin.

(2) The rate of current and projected growth of the population overlying the basin or subbasin.

(3) The number of public supply wells that draw from the basin or subbasin.

(4) The total number of wells that draw from the basin or subbasin.

(5) The irrigated acreage overlying the basin or subbasin.

(6) The degree to which persons overlying the basin or subbasin rely on groundwater as their primary source of water.

(7) Any documented impacts on the groundwater within the basin or subbasin, including overdraft, subsidence, saline intrusion, and other water quality degradation.

(8) Any other information determined to be relevant by the department.

(c) If the department determines that all or part of a basin or subbasin is not being monitored pursuant to this part, the department shall do all of the following:

(1) Attempt to contact all well owners within the area not being monitored.

(2) Determine if there is an interest in establishing any of the following:

(A) A groundwater management plan pursuant to Part 2.75 (commencing with Section 10750).

(B) An integrated regional water management plan pursuant to Part 2.2 (commencing with Section 10530) that includes a groundwater management component that complies with the requirements of Section 10753.7.

(C) A voluntary groundwater monitoring association pursuant to Section 10935.

(d) If the department determines that there is sufficient interest in establishing a plan or association described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c), or if the county agrees to perform the groundwater monitoring functions in accordance with this part, the department shall work cooperatively with the interested parties to comply with the requirements of this part within two years.

(e) If the department determines, with regard to a basin or subbasin, that there is insufficient interest in establishing a plan or association described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c), and if the county decides not to perform the groundwater monitoring and reporting functions of this part, the department shall do all of the following:

(1) Identify any existing monitoring wells that overlie the basin or subbasin that are owned or operated by the department or any other state or federal agency.

(2) Determine whether the monitoring wells identified pursuant to paragraph (1) provide sufficient information to demonstrate seasonal and long-term trends in groundwater elevations.

(3) If the department determines that the monitoring wells identified pursuant to paragraph (1) provide sufficient information to demonstrate seasonal and long-term trends in groundwater elevations, the department shall not perform groundwater monitoring functions pursuant to Section 10933.5.

(4) If the department determines that the monitoring wells identified pursuant to paragraph (1) provide insufficient information to demonstrate seasonal and long-term trends in groundwater elevations, the department shall perform groundwater monitoring functions pursuant to Section 10933.5.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 280, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2012.)