Wyandotte Creek Groundwater Sustainability Agency

User Classification Change and Appeal Process

The User Classification Change and Appeal Process forms are still being finalized. However, review the adopted policy (download above) to determine if a classification change, fee change, or muliple user classification change is applicable to you.

The Wyandotte Creek GSA has developed this fee policy to ensure that each parcel subject to the fee is properly classified into the correct user class and is being charged the correct fee amount on a per acre per year basis. The policy recognizes that the manner in which each parcel is charged under the adopted fees needs to be flexible to ensure billing equity for landowners and to accommodate changes in land use and/or water source that may necessitate reclassification of parcels into the correct user class for accurate fee assessment purposes. 

Landowners can request reclassification of their parcel(s), and thus the fee charged, under the following circumstances:

      Condition 1: Standard Classification Change and Fee Recalculation

• Parcel is improperly classified (not in correct user class);
• Parcel fee assessment amount is incorrect (based on acreage inaccuracy or incorrect user classification);
• Parcel land use and/or water source has changed requiring the parcel to be reclassified into a different user class;

      Condition 2: Multiple User Classifications on Parcels 10 or More Acres in Size

•  Parcels that are 10 or more acres in size (or portions of boundary parcels located within the GSA boundaries that are 10 or more acres in size) may be reclassified with multiple user classes.

Wyandotte Creek GSA Long-term Funding Needs

Funding the Wyandotte Creek GSA going forward​​ is critical so that we can locally fund and manage o​ur​ groundwater resources and work to implement key projects and management actions that will ensure adequate groundwater supplies are available to all users in the future.

The California legislature passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in 2014 and required the formation of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) throughout California. SGMA provides for the management of groundwater resources at the local level and requires GSAs to develop and implement Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs). The Wyandotte Creek GSP must ensure sustainable groundwater conditions by 2042 while avoiding six distinct undesirable results. The decisions about sustainability will be made locally and includes public involvement. This is why the Wyandotte Creek GSA is proactively developing long-term water management solutions to prioritize local interests and keep expenses for landowners to a minimum so that groundwater can be managed and protected locally.

Compliance with SGMA is not optional and securing funding for priority projects and management actions is our best path forward. Securing local funding revenues retains local control ensuring stakeholders have input and provides solutions that benefit our region. The Wyandotte Creek GSA Board is dedicated to navigating SGMA together with its members and stakeholders.

What's My Fee?

Click here to access the interactive mapping tool to identify your parcel and the fee for your parcel, or scan the QR-Code to access the map on your phone.

Proposed Fees 

Budget/Revenue Needs

Provided below are the revenue projections for the GSA for a five-year period (without grant funds). This budget includes the additional implementation costs associated with the three user class fee. The three user class fee includes non-irrigated user, irrigated surface water user and irrigated groundwater user.  

Funding Reports

The Fee Report describes the basis for the Wyandotte Creek GSA's proposed fee to each assessable parcel within the Wyandotte Creek GSA jurisdiction in order to provide groundwater management services in compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The Draft Fee Report that was presented to the Wyandotte Creek Board at their May 25, 2023 meeting has been updated to reflect their motion to select the three user classes and charge the corresponding fee as described in the Fee Draft Report. 

The precursor to the Draft Fee Report are the Technical Memorandum and 5-year projections with and without DWR Grant funding or additional implementation costs associated with more complex fee options.

Wyandotte Creek Funding 2018 to 2022

Since 2018 when the Wyandotte Creek Groundwater Sustainability Agency (Wyandotte Creek GSA) was originally established, the Wyandotte Creek GSA has been funded by contributions from each of the member agencies (Butte County, City of Oroville, Thermalito Water & Sewer District) and in-house staff services. Annual member agency funds along with grant funding for development of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) and required reports has allowed the Wyandotte Creek GSA to achieve necessary SGMA compliance actions to date. Going forward, long-term funding will be needed to support continued Wyandotte Creek GSA administration costs and facilitate ongoing GSP implementation and SGMA compliance actions needed to locally manage our groundwater resources.

Meetings and Workshops

The goal of the Wyandotte Creek GSA is to maintain open communication with community stakeholders throughout the process of establishing a long-term funding source for GSA operations and SGMA compliance costs. Updates to this process will be posted to this web page including a fact sheet(s) and frequently asked questions. In addition, updates will be distributed to our email list regarding the future schedule for related meetings and workshops.  Please sign-up to receive email updates.

The Wyandotte Creek GSA has hosted various meetings and workshops to engage GSA stakeholders focusing on the potential long-term funding mechanism for the Wyandotte Creek GSA. Wyandotte Creek GSA Board and stakeholder advisory committee meetings are publicized on the GSA’s website and direct emailed to those on our stakeholder list. Please sign-up to receive email updates. Meeting topics have addressed various components of developing the funding mechanism including additional grants, fees, and/or assessments. Please review the GSA’s website calendar dates and agendas for long term funding discussions. The public is encouraged to attend these meetings to learn more about local groundwater management efforts in the Subbasin.

GSA Fee Informational Workshop - June 22, 2023

This workshop provided a background and overview of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), the GSA, and the proposed fees to be charged to landowners for groundwater management. The purpose was to answer questions you may have. If you were unable to attend and want to be notified of other opportunities to provide input, please sign-up to receive email updates.

06-22-23 Fee Workshop Flyer.pdf

Funding Workshop – April 11, 2023 

The Wyandotte Creek GSA held a public workshop to share long-term funding needs for GSP implementation and seek public input on funding options. For an overview of the information presented download the meeting presentation.

Funding Workshop – May 23, 2022

In May of 2022, the Wyandotte Creek GSA conducted a Funding Workshop to provide an overview of the funding process to the Board, WAC, and the public. To get an overview of the funding process, review the presentation slides.