Title
Receive an update on the New Seawater Intrusion Project (NSIP) 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 New Seawater Intrusion Project (NSIP) Feasibility Study.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Background
The DWR Sustainable Groundwater Management Round 2 Salinas Valley Implementation Grant (SGM R2-S) includes funding for feasibility studies of alternative supplies, including the expansion of the Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project (CSIP), hereafter referred to as New Seawater Intrusion Project (NSIP). The Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA) has been developing the NSIP feasibility study with support from MCWRA, Carollo Engineering and Schaaf and Wheeler Consulting Civil Engineers.
Discussion
One of the projects identified in the 180/400-Ft. Aquifer Subbasin and Eastside Aquifer Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plans is an expansion of CSIP to serve additional agricultural lands with new water supplies to offset groundwater use. The NSIP study is evaluating both CSIP expansion and a new, potentially separate distribution system with its own dedicated infrastructure (e.g. pipes, pumps, turnouts, storage, diversion and treatment facilities).
The purpose of this study is to 1) investigate potential source waters; 2) identify and prioritize areas/users that could be served by the new sources and the ability to expand the delivery of in lieu supplies to meet irrigation demands in areas at risk of seawater intrusion; 3) evaluate infrastructure needs and sizing for serving new users; and 4) develop alternatives for paired source waters and infrastructure systems and estimate costs.
The NSIP study area encompasses portions of the 180/400-Foot Aquifer Subbasin and Eastside Subbasin where demand is concentrated in the 400-foot aquifer and Deep Aquifers and it covers the areas experiencing or at risk of sea...
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