Title
Presentation on the Deep Aquifers Study. (Staff Presenting: Amy Woodrow)
Report
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA) and collaborative funding partners, including the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (Agency) jointly financed the Deep Aquifers Study (Study) to address critical questions regarding the geology and hydrogeology of the Deep Aquifers in the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin and provide a scientific basis for decision making regarding management of this groundwater resource.
The need for additional study of the Deep Aquifers was identified by the Agency in its October 2017 report "Recommendations to Address the Expansion of Seawater Intrusion in the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin." In response to a presentation of the "Recommendation" report the Agency's Board of Directors directed staff to provide a scope and estimate of costs necessary to complete an investigation of the Deep Aquifers, as was suggested in the "Recommendations" report. In response, Agency staff convened the Deep Aquifers Roundtable Meeting in March 2018, which consisted of a group of fifteen professionals with expertise in geology, hydrogeology, or related fields and with specific experience studying the Deep Aquifers.
In April 2018, Agency staff provided recommendations for a comprehensive study of the Deep Aquifers at a special joint meeting of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, Board of Supervisors of the Water Resources Agency, and Water Resources Agency Board of Directors. At that meeting, staff was directed to locate alternative funding to complete a Deep Aquifers Study.
In May 2018, the County of Monterey issued an interim ordinance (No. 5302) which prohibited construction of new wells in the Deep Aquifers unless exempted by the terms of the ordinance. In June 2018, Ordinance No. 5302 was extended under Ordinance No. 5303 through May 21, 2020.
In May 2020, the Agency provided an update to the 2017 "...
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