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Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Basin Groundwater Management Plan Northeastern San Joaquin County Section 7 Groundwater Banking Authority 101 Plan Governance 7.3.2 Mutual Interest-based The mutual interest-based model reflects a governance framework that creates a stakeholder group of common interests with the powers to undertake specific goals and objectives. The current Authority structure is a form of the mutual interest based approach. A stakeholder group such as a JPA or coalition, represented by individual agencies overlying the Basin, would be responsible for providing a consensus based forum in which projects can be developed by Basin stakeholders in a manner that maximizes benefits to all involved parties and the region as a whole. Projects developed with input from the stakeholder group would ensure consistency with the Plan. The distinct advantage to this approach is the benefit of regionalism. Broad based support for a project is a deterrent to litigation, protest, and opposition. In addition, regional projects are more competitive in the funding arena both at the State and federal levels. A potentially negative aspect of this management framework is the perceived loss of control over a project. Nonetheless, a project will be weighed and measured on its merits and its fate decided on by its constituents. It is highly unlikely that a mediocre project without broad based consensus will survive an onslaught of political, legal, and regulatory challenges. Figure 7-2 Mutual Interest-based Model Presented in Figure 7-2 is an example of a mutual interest-based governance framework in the context of the current Authority governance structure and groundwater management efforts. The Authority is a forum for its member agencies to develop groundwater recharge and banking projects and programs. The forum creates accountability for its member agencies to health of the underlying Basin. Development within the Authority ensures that projects are consistent with the Basin Management Objectives developed in this Plan to sustain the health of the Basin. The Authority would not be governed by the County Board of Supervisors, however, as currently structured, should a Groundwater Export Permit be necessary for an export project, Board of Supervisor approval would be required. The Board of Supervisors of San Joaquin County would remain a member agency of the Authority. 7.4 Dispute Resolution The Authority has served as a regional planning body and a forum for member agencies to share their groundwater management efforts and ensure that those efforts do not detrimentally affect other member agencies. In order to avoid potential conflicts between Basin stakeholders, the Authority employs the following: • Expanded Membership: Authority membership is diverse as are the myriad of water challenges and issues facing Eastern San Joaquin County. In 2001, the Central Delta Water Agency and the South Delta Water Agency became full contributing and voting member agencies to the Authority. In 2004, amendments to the Authority JPA included County Board of Supervisors Groundwater Management and Export Ordinance Groundwater Management Authority Groundwater Management Plan Water Districts Cities Partnerships Public Input Comments Project Project Project