Title
Receive an update on the Castroville & Eastside Canals and Alternatives Preliminary Feasibility Study. (Staff: Shaunna Murray)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Receive an update on the Castroville & Eastside Canals and Alternatives Preliminary Feasibility Study.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Background
In 2025, Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA) initiated the Castroville & Eastside Canals and Alternatives Preliminary Feasibility Study (C&E Study) to evaluate surface water diversion opportunities from the Salinas River that could support Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) implementation. The work is funded through the Department of Water Resources Sustainable Groundwater Management (SGM) Implementation Grant and is being conducted collaboratively with the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA).
The C&E Study builds upon longstanding concepts-dating back to the 1940s-for diverting excess flows from the Salinas River to raise groundwater levels. The feasibility study team includes Montgomery & Associates (M&A), MBK Engineers, Wallace Group, and Denise Duffy & Associates. The first phase focused on evaluating water rights options, reviewing historical documents, analyzing surface water flows and identifying viable project components for potential diversion and conveyance systems. Information from the first phase was applied to develop four project scenarios to address four different groundwater goals:
1. Raise Groundwater Levels in Central Eastside Subbasin
2. Raise Groundwater Levels in Northern Eastside Subbasin
3. Stop Seawater Intrusion in 400-Foot Aquifer
4. Provide In-Lieu Supply to Reduce Pumping from Seawater Intruded Areas and Deep Aquifers.
If any of the project concepts are ultimately constructed, they could partially contribute to the solution to one or more of the groundwater goals.
Discussion
Building on Phase 1 findings, the po...
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