Applications are due by 5 p.m. Monday, July 31, for board-appointed members of Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) advisory committees in Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain and Sonoma Valley groundwater basins.

The advisory committees will provide input and feedback on policies, programs and projects to the boards of the regional GSAs. The agencies were formed to meet the requirements of California’s historic Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which went into effect in 2015.

The Sonoma Valley Advisory Committee consists of 12 members, six of whom will be appointed by the Sonoma Valley GSA board. The board is seeking one rural residential well owner, one agricultural representative, one environmental representative, one business representative and two “at-large” community representatives (preferably one who is a hydrogeologist or geologist and one can represent disadvantaged community interests).

The Sonoma County Water Agency has received eight applications from Valley residents who want to sit on the board.

“We need communicators to serve on the advisory committees. A key role of committee members will be sharing what they learn with the broader community, so that people who live in the basins understand what is happening and why it’s happening,” said Susan Gorin, Chair of the Sonoma Valley GSA board.

Advisory committee members are expected to communicate with the stakeholders they represent what they are learning and how decisions will be made regarding groundwater management.

Committee members should expect to spend several hours reading materials and preparing for meetings, which will be held every other month and last for two or three hours. Terms will be two years after initial staggered terms.

Go to sonomacountygroundwater.org/sv-advisory-committee/ for the application and more information.