The Sierra Valley Groundwater Management District has submitted an application for a five-year temporary permit - to divert excess winter stream flows in Sierra Valley - to support managed groundwater recharge. Diversions would only occur when high flows exist during the following dates (within the five-year period):

• between December 1 through March 14 on Smithneck and Staverville Creek 
• between January 1 through March 31 on Little Last Chance Creek 

Public Notice

• The Public Notice for the temporary permit application is posted at the top of this page.
• Any objections to the application must be emailed or postmarked by August 9, 2025. 

The mailing address is:

State Water Board, Division of Water Rights

Attn: Ben McCovey

PO Box 2000

Sacramento, CA 95812-2000

Or send via email to Benjamin.McCovery@waterboards.ca.gov

You may also email Ben with questions or call him at (916) 327-8683

Please mail or email a copy of any objections to:

Sierra Valley Groundwater Management District

Attn: Jenny Gant

PO Box 88

Chilcoot, CA  96105

email: svgmd@sierravalleygmd.org

Some additional context is provided below.

Background

As a reminder - the Sierra Valley Groundwater Sustainability Plan (SVGSP) was submitted to, and approved by the Department of Water Resources in 2022. This was required by California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).

• The Plan included several projects and management actions to enhance groundwater sustainability in the Sierra Valley. Key projects included groundwater recharge, increasing agricultural irrigation efficiency, and expanding the monitoring network for groundwater levels, groundwater quality, and subsidence.
• The recharge projects seek to divert a portion of winter, high-water (excess) flows to areas where the water flows can be slowed - allowing time to seep into the ground and recharge the aquifer.
• Over the five-year period, diversions would only occur during the time periods stated above - and only during high stream flow events. The amount of water that can be diverted is capped at 20% of the high-water stream flow. The terms of the permit do not allow diversions that interfere with downstream water rights. 

To support the recharge effort, an application was submitted to the State Water Board for a five-year temporary authorization to divert high-water flows as described above. 

It is expected that there may be a total of five to six recharge projects. The final project locations and diversion points along Little Last Chance Creek have not been determined. As a result, the application is broadly written and includes a list of many possible diversion points that are subject to landowner and Last Chance Creek Water District approval. 

Any objections to the application must be submitted by August 9, 2025 by mail or email to the addresses provided above.