Title
Consider receiving an update on the MCWRA activities related to the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s Subgrant Agreements.(Presenter: Shaunna Murray)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Receive an update on the MCWRA activities related to the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s Subgrant Agreements.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On September 19, 2022 the Board of Directors authorized the General Manager to enter into a
Subgrant Agreement with the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (“SVBGSA”) to receive funding from the State of California Department of Water Resources for Sustainable Groundwater Management related to Grant Agreement Number 4600014638, in the amount of $3,690,000, to financially support the Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s (“Agency”) involvement with certain components of the SVBGSA’s Round 1 (SGM Round 1) Implementation projects. Subsequent amendments have been approved and executed for a new total of $3,483,300.
The work plan in the SGM Round 1 Subgrant Agreement provided funding for the Agency to work collaboratively with the SVBGSA on activities associated with planning, development, preparation, and/or implementation of the Dry Chlorine Scrubber Upgrade; Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project Distribution System Upgrades; Interested Parties Outreach and Engagement; Feasibility Studies on Aquifer Storage and Recovery; Demand Management Feasibility; Compliance Reporting and Data Expansion; Operationalizing Deep Aquifers Study Recommendations, and grant administration tasks
In 2024, the SVBGSA and Marina Coast Water District Groundwater Sustainability Agency (“MCWDGSA”) were awarded funding from the State of California Department of Water Resources for Sustainable Groundwater Management Round 2 (“SGM Round 2”) Implementation Grants. The SGM Round 2 grants to the SVBGSA and MCWDGSA include tasks related to expanding well registration and groundwater extraction reporting programs for compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (“SGMA”); these tasks are a continuation of work that the Agency has been collaborating on with the SVBGSA through a SGM Round 1. The SGM Round 2 Implementation Grant also includes work to engage interested parties in to further develop and study various GSP implementation projects. Those studies include the Castroville Seawater Intrusion Expansion, Brackish Groundwater Restoration Project, Reservoir Re-operations, and the Castroville and Eastside Canals Project and Alternatives.
Since 2022, staff has been working on the components of the subgrant agreements and will present updates on those components, status of completion of those items as well as some next steps.
Agency efforts on the work covered by the Subgrant Agreements align with Agency Strategic Plan Goal B – Strategy 2: Collaborate with location Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, define MCWRA’s role, and implement a GSA integration plan and Goals C – Strategy 6: Pursue grant funding and cost saving opportunities from all available sources, including collaborating with the GSA.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The California Department of Water Resources administers the grant agreements. The SVBGSA administers the subgrant agreements, leads many of the components of the grant agreements and collaborates with the Agency.
FINANCING:
Staff time to participate in the subgrant activities and staff updates is included in the FY2026 approved budget and are funded through the two subgrant agreements with the SVBGSA and one subgrant agreement with the MCWDGSA.
Prepared by: Shaunna Murray, Deputy General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Approved by: Ara Azhderian, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Presentation
2. Board Order