Title
Update on the development of a Groundwater Monitoring Program ordinance and fee. (Staff Presenting; Amy Woodrow & Ara Azhderian)
Report
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County Water Resources Agency ("Agency") and Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency ("SVBGSA") have been collaborating on the expansion of the Agency's groundwater extraction reporting and groundwater monitoring programs to meet the SVBGSA's current regulatory requirements under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. An initial draft of the proposed new ordinance associated with this effort was presented to the Agency's Personnel & Administration Committee on May 5, 2024; to the Agency's Planning Committee on July 3, 2024; and has been the subject of numerous stakeholder meetings since that time. The Agency has revised the draft ordinance throughout the process in response to comments and questions received. The draft ordinance was presented to the Agency's Board of Directors for initial review on July 15, 2024 (Attachment 1).
The Agency is also working to establish a Groundwater Monitoring Program ("GMP") manual and fee to describe the breadth of the Agency's groundwater monitoring programs more fully beyond groundwater extraction reporting, which has been the primary focus of attention, and associated costs of the programs (Attachment 2). The Agency has initiated the GMP regulatory fee nexus study. The draft ordinance and GMP manual will again be considered by the Board of Directors at their August 19, 2024 meeting.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency
FINANCING:
This effort is being financed from Fund 116 or grant funding provided by the SVBGSA, as appropriate.
Prepared by: Amy Woodrow, Senior Water Resources Hydrologist, 831-755-4860
Approved by: _________________________________________________
Ara Azhderian, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
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