Apply to Serve on the GSA Advisory Committee

call for applications for the advisory committee

The three Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) serving Sonoma County — Petaluma Valley GSA, Sonoma Valley GSA, and Santa Rosa Plain GSA — are jointly recruiting applicants to fill interest-based seats on their respective Advisory Committees for the two-year term running January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2028. Open seats include agricultural, business, rural residential, environmental, and community at-large.

Each agency’s Advisory Committee provides input and feedback to its Board of Directors on groundwater sustainability policies, programs, and projects, helping guide implementation of their local Groundwater Sustainability Plan, in accordance with California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).

Bill Keene, Administrator for the Sonoma Valley GSA noted the key role that this committee plays for groundwater users, “The GSA Advisory Committees are essential to our success in achieving groundwater sustainability in all of our basins.  The great importance of serving on the Advisory Committee is that members get to have direct input to the agency on the issues that most affect the people and places they represent, which is incredibly important to the GSA and the groundwater users.”

An estimated 43,000 people located within the three GSA boundaries depend solely on groundwater for drinking and other basic needs, and more than 20,000 acres of local agriculture are irrigated with groundwater. “The GSA’s commitment and task-at-hand is to better manage our groundwater resource,” said Bob Anderson, chair of the Santa Rosa Plain GSA Advisory Committee and agricultural interest representative. “It means in essence groundwater is where the future exists today – decisions made today will shape how we meet and get through future droughts.”

Eligibility

Community members who live, work, or have an interest in agriculture, business, rural residential, or environmental issues within these basins, as well as those interested in serving as an at-large community representative in Petaluma or Sonoma Valley, are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must live or work within the boundaries of the relevant GSA’s groundwater basin or subbasin. For each committee, one seat may be filled by a member who lives within the basin or subbasin’s contributing watershed.

Making a difference

“The Petaluma Valley GSA has made remarkable progress since its inception in 2017,” said Sarah Raker, a Petaluma Valley GSA Advisory Committee Chair representing Environmental Interest. “Serving on the Advisory Committee has been deeply rewarding—working alongside GSA staff and consultants to navigate complex water resources and policy issues while balancing the needs of a diverse stakeholder group.”

How to apply

Applications will be accepted September 14 through October 30, 2026. Each application requires:

  • A written statement from the applicant
  • Education and experience information
  • References
  • An optional resume and letters of recommendation

Appointments will be made by each agency’s respective Board of Directors.

Learn more

Additional details and applications for each agency’s Advisory Committee are available through each GSA’s website: