Title
Acting as the Monterey County Groundwater Sustainability Agency:
Adopt a resolution approving the final draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the 180/400-Foot Aquifer Subbasin, for management of the MCGSA jurisdictional area known as CEMEX.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors, acting as the Monterey County Groundwater Sustainability Agency, adopt the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the 180/400 ft. Aquifer Subbasin, for management of the MCGSA jurisdictional area known as CEMEX.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) be adopted for medium or high priority basins and subbasins in California (including the CEMEX portion of the 180/400ft Aquifer Subbasin). The plans must detail how basins will become sustainable over a 20-year timeframe and must be submitted to the California Department of Water Resources for approval. The deadline for submittal of plans to the State was January 31, 2020.
In March 2018, the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA), a Joint Powers Authority of which the County is a member, submitted initial notification to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to prepare a GSP for the Salinas Valley Ground Water Basin, which included the 180/400-foot Aquifer Subbasin. Over the subsequent years, SVBGSA undertook the process to prepare the GSP as required by SGMA.
On December 11, 2019, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors formed the Monterey County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (Monterey County GSA) to avoid State intervention as a result of overlapping GSA notices submitted by the SVBGSA and the City of Marina GSA. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) recognized the County as the exclusive GSA on December 18, 2019. In its resolution forming the Monterey County GSA, the County expressed its intent to adopt the GSP prepared by SVBGSA for the 180/400 Subbasin for management of the CEMEX property.
The SVBGSA completed and formally adopted the GSP, pursuant to Water Code section 10727, on January 9, 2020. Although the SVBGSA GSP covers the entire 180/400 ft. subbasin, the SVBGSA’s resolution adopting the GSP at that time excluded the CEMEX property.
On January 28, 2020, the GSP was presented to the Monterey County GSA Board of Supervisors for initial consideration. At that meeting, the Board opened a public hearing to accept public comments regarding the GSP, directed staff to provide the required notice(s) to develop and adopt the GSP for the CEMEX property, and continued the hearing for a minimum of 90 days for further public comment and participation. The Board further adopted a resolution approving a Cooperation Agreement between the Monterey County GSA and SVBGSA that designated the SVBGSA as the entity that would implement the Plan for the CEMEX site. On January 30, 2020, the SVBGSA Board adopted the GSP for the CEMEX site, which resulted in a single management plan for the 180/400, and directed staff to file the Plan with the DWR prior to the January 31, 2020, deadline to avoid State intervention.
As directed by the Board in late January 2020, staff has issued the required notice(s) to develop and adopt the GSP for the 180/400for management of the CEMEX property, therefore providing affected cities and public with a 90-day period to provide comments on the GSP. No public comments or requests for consultation were received during the 90-day public comment period. To finalize the public review process, staff recommends that the County GSA close the public hearing and consider adopting a resolution approving the GSP.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The CAO’s office concurs with the recommended action.
FINANCING:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the GSP itself. Costs associated with these actions include mostly staff time. Any non-staff time costs will be covered by the CAO office budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Approval of these actions are consistent with the following Board Strategic Initiatives:
X Economic Development
X Administration
__Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Brian P. Briggs, Deputy County Counsel
Approved by:
__________________________
Charles J. McKee
County Administrative Officer
Dated: June 18, 2020
Attachments:
- GSP for 180/400-Foot Aquifer Subbasin, and
- Resolution