Madera County Water Market Webinar Feedback Questions

Purpose of This Survey

This survey is intended to elicit feedback on the information provided by Madera County and its consultants at the December 1, 2020 webinar regarding a proposed voluntary groundwater market (Market) in Madera County. This Market would allow agricultural water users within County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) areas to buy and sell groundwater allocations. In the future, other GSAs within the County may opt to participate in the market.

To test the effectiveness of the Market and to ensure that it is meeting its intended objectives, the County plans to initiate a year-long pilot market program in January of 2021. The pilot program will be a virtual exercise, meaning that no physical trades will take place. From January through October of 2021, participants will be asked to participate in monthly trading simulations.

The following questions are designed to help the County understand partner concerns regarding potential rules and processes associated with the pilot Market. Participant responses will be considered by the County as it moves forward with the pilot Market program but are not intended to serve as a vote on specific aspects of Market design.

We look forward to hearing your feedback. Should you prefer to mail or email your comments, you can do so by sending them to Stephanie Anagnoson at:

Water and Natural Resources Department
200 W. Fourth Street
Madera, CA 93637

Stephanie.Anagnoson@maderacounty.com

Question Title

* Welcome, Introductions and Agenda Review
Question 1. (Presentation Slide 9: Zoom Poll) What best describes your role in Madera County?

Farmer and resident of Madera County

Farmer and non-resident of Madera County

Resident of Madera County who does not farm

I am with a local agency

I am with a state agency

I am with a federal agency

Other (please specify)

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* Question 2 (Presentation Slide 9: Zoom Poll.)
If you are a farmer or resident within the Madera Subbasin portion of Madera County, with which GSA are you affiliated? Select all that apply.

Madera Subbasin – Madera County GSA

Madera Subbasin – City of Madera GSA

Madera Subbasin – Madera Irrigation District GSA

Madera Subbasin – Madera Water District GSA

Madera Subbasin – Root Creek Water District GSA

Madera Subbasin – Gravelly Ford Water District GSA

Madera Subbasin – New Stone Water District GSA

Chowchilla Subbasin – Madera County GSA

Chowchilla Subbasin – Chowchilla Water District GSA

Chowchilla Subbasin - Merced County GSA

Chowchilla Subbasin – Triangle T Water District

Delta-Mendota Subbasin – Aliso Water District GSA

Delta-Mendota Subbasin – Exchange Contractors GSA

Delta-Mendota Subbasin – County GSA

None

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* Pilot Project – Potential Market Impacts and Rules

Question 3 (Presentation Slide 57: Zoom Poll)
As a potential participant in an actual market, how often would you want the opportunity to make trades?

Weekly

Every other week

Monthly

Every other month

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* Questions 4 and 5 below refer to the pilot program Market rules. Please refer to the workshop presentation and handouts for additional information on potential pilot market rules.

Question 4a (Presentation Slide 59: Feedback Discussion) Which of the market rules that will be tested as part of the pilot program do you find most appealing (select all that apply)?

1. Rules related to trading zones and buffer areas

Allowing buyers to only purchase allocations from sellers located within the same trading zone or buffer area (or other directional restrictions).

Applying fees, trading ratios, exchange rates, or surcharges on trades within or across certain zones or buffer areas.

Capping aggregate purchases (e.g., total purchases from a specific trade zone) or individual purchases.

Designating certain buffer areas as “sell only zones.”

Initially, trading will not be limited to specific trading zones or buffer areas within County GSA.

No trading across subbasins or outside County.

Targeting incentive programs to sellers within buffer areas.

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* 2. Rules related to carryover of sustainable yield allocations

For the pilot, buyers and sellers may carryover 1-years’ worth of SY allocation into following year.

Total use not to exceed two years’ worth of allocations in any given year.

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* 3. Process/criteria for matching buyers and sellers

Anonymous matching process

Facilitating multi-year trades

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* 4. Additional rules

For the pilot, there is no limit on amount of water per irrigated acre that a buyer can purchase (carryover rules still apply).

Once purchased, allocations cannot be resold.

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* Question 4b (Presentation Slide 59: Feedback Discussion) For the market rules you selected above, please describe why they are appealing to you.

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* Question 5a (Presentation Slide 61: Feedback Discussion)
Which of the market rules that will be tested as part of the pilot program do you find most concerning (select all that apply)?

1. Rules related to trading zones and buffer areas

Allowing buyers to only purchase allocations from sellers located within the same trading zone or buffer area (or other directional restrictions).

Applying fees, trading ratios, exchange rates, or surcharges on trades within or across certain zones or buffer areas.

Capping aggregate purchases (e.g., total purchases from a specific trade zone) or individual purchases.

Designating certain buffer areas as “sell only zones.”

Initially, trading will not be limited to specific trading zones or buffer areas within County GSA.

No trading across subbasins or outside County.

Targeting incentive programs to sellers within buffer areas.

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* 2. Rules related to carryover of sustainable yield allocations

For the pilot, buyers and sellers may carryover 1-years’ worth of SY allocation into following year.

Total use not to exceed two years’ worth of allocations in any given year.

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* 3. Process/criteria for matching buyers and sellers

Anonymous matching process

Facilitating multi-year trades

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* 4. Additional rules

For the pilot, there is no limit on amount of water per irrigated acre that a buyer can purchase (carryover rules still apply).

Once purchased, allocations cannot be resold.

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* Question 5b (Presentation Slide 61: Feedback Discussion)
For the market rules you selected above, please describe why they are concerning to you.

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* Question 6 (Presentation Slide 62: Feedback Discussion) What other questions/comments do you have about the pilot market structure, rules, or potential impacts?

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* Pilot Project – Process and Recruitment

Question 7 (Presentation Slide 68: Feedback Discussion)
Which aspects of the pilot market might be confusing or challenging for participants to navigate?

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* Question 8 (Presentation: Feedback Discussion)
The pilot market administrator will provide information to participants each month to help them make decisions about buying or selling allocations within a simulated trading year.

Information that will be provided each month:
· Irrigated acreage by crop type
· Year and month for which simulation is occurring
· Total annual rainfall (by month) for simulated year.
· Consumptive use demand by crop type
· SY allocation available (including any carryover amount)
· Amount and cost of transitional water available in simulated year.
· Minimum economic information necessary for participants to make market decisions (e.g., average net returns by crop type per acre).
· Average market sale price
· Information on available incentives (as applicable)
· Key questions to elicit feedback on pilot process, market structure and rules.

As a participant in the pilot market program, what additional information would you need to decide to buy or sell groundwater allocations and participate in monthly trading simulations?

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* Question 9 (Presentation Slide 70: Feedback Discussion) Do you have other questions or comments about the pilot program process or logistics? If so, what are they?

Madera County Water Market Webinar Feedback Questions

Purpose of This Survey

Question Title

* Welcome, Introductions and Agenda ReviewQuestion 1. (Presentation Slide 9: Zoom Poll) What best describes your role in Madera County?

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* Question 2 (Presentation Slide 9: Zoom Poll.)If you are a farmer or resident within the Madera Subbasin portion of Madera County, with which GSA are you affiliated? Select all that apply.

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* Pilot Project – Potential Market Impacts and Rules Question 3 (Presentation Slide 57: Zoom Poll) As a potential participant in an actual market, how often would you want the opportunity to make trades?

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* 2. Rules related to carryover of sustainable yield allocations

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* 3. Process/criteria for matching buyers and sellers

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* 4. Additional rules

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* Question 4b (Presentation Slide 59: Feedback Discussion) For the market rules you selected above, please describe why they are appealing to you.

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* Question 5a (Presentation Slide 61: Feedback Discussion) Which of the market rules that will be tested as part of the pilot program do you find most concerning (select all that apply)?1. Rules related to trading zones and buffer areas

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* 2. Rules related to carryover of sustainable yield allocations

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* 3. Process/criteria for matching buyers and sellers

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* 4. Additional rules

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* Question 5b (Presentation Slide 61: Feedback Discussion) For the market rules you selected above, please describe why they are concerning to you.

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* Question 6 (Presentation Slide 62: Feedback Discussion) What other questions/comments do you have about the pilot market structure, rules, or potential impacts?

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* Pilot Project – Process and Recruitment Question 7 (Presentation Slide 68: Feedback Discussion) Which aspects of the pilot market might be confusing or challenging for participants to navigate?

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* Question 9 (Presentation Slide 70: Feedback Discussion) Do you have other questions or comments about the pilot program process or logistics? If so, what are they?

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* General Comments and FeedbackQuestion 10 Please provide any general comments or feedback (e.g. format/meeting topics).

* Welcome, Introductions and Agenda Review
Question 1. (Presentation Slide 9: Zoom Poll) What best describes your role in Madera County?

* Question 2 (Presentation Slide 9: Zoom Poll.)
If you are a farmer or resident within the Madera Subbasin portion of Madera County, with which GSA are you affiliated? Select all that apply.

* Pilot Project – Potential Market Impacts and Rules

Question 3 (Presentation Slide 57: Zoom Poll)
As a potential participant in an actual market, how often would you want the opportunity to make trades?

* Question 5a (Presentation Slide 61: Feedback Discussion)
Which of the market rules that will be tested as part of the pilot program do you find most concerning (select all that apply)?

1. Rules related to trading zones and buffer areas

* Question 5b (Presentation Slide 61: Feedback Discussion)
For the market rules you selected above, please describe why they are concerning to you.

* Pilot Project – Process and Recruitment

Question 7 (Presentation Slide 68: Feedback Discussion)
Which aspects of the pilot market might be confusing or challenging for participants to navigate?

* General Comments and Feedback

Question 10 Please provide any general comments or feedback (e.g. format/meeting topics).