Title
Consider receiving a report on the status of the County of Monterey’s “Salinas River Groundwater Basin Investigation.”
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Receive a report on the status of the County of Monterey’s “Salinas River Groundwater Basin Investigation.”
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
In July 2014, the County of Monterey began a five-year comprehensive water resources assessment of Zone 2C of the Salinas River Groundwater Basin. A primary objective of the study is to assess the general health of the Groundwater Basin with regards to its ability to provide a sustainable supply of water for land use activities projected to the year 2045. The investigation will:
• Evaluate existing seawater intrusion and groundwater level data on an annual basis throughout the five year study period (2014 - 2018).
• Evaluate the total water demand for existing and future uses projected to the year 2045 through the development of an integrated groundwater/surface water model of the basin.
• Assess and provide conclusions regarding the degree to which the total water demand for uses are likely to be reached or exceeded for the year 2045.
• Evaluate and provide conclusions regarding future trends and expected changes in groundwater elevations and the extent of seawater intrusion based on historical data and data produced during the study.
• Review potential climate change impacts and incorporation of climate model results into groundwater/surface water model.
Project milestones:
• July 2014: County begins a five-year study of Zone 2C of the Salinas River Groundwater Basin contracting Brown and Caldwell with managerial and technical assistance from the Water Resources Agency.
• January 2015: “State of the Salinas River Groundwater Basin” Brown and Caldwell.
• May 12, 2015: TAC comprised of qualified professionals representing Stakeholders is formed and begins meeting on a monthly basis as necessary.
• December 16, 2015: The County/Project Team held its first Stakeholder outreach meeting in which it was announced that model development would transition from Brown and Caldwell to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
• April 2016: County enters into an agreement with the USGS to perform tasks related to the development of the Salinas Valley Integrated Hydrologic Model (SVIHM).
• May 10, 2016: TAC meets to discuss transition of project to USGS and continue work on developing conceptual model and geologic framework.
• June 7, 2016: Project Team reaches out to a group of approximately 20 Salinas Valley agricultural experts and advisors (academic, government, agricultural associations, and private sector) to solicit agricultural inputs to SVIHM.
• July 12, 13, and 14, 2016: Stakeholder outreach meetings held in Salinas, Soledad and King City. Stakeholder outreach will continue through the entire term of the five year study period.
• September 7, 2016: Outreach team collaborates with Norm Groot (Executive Director, Monterey County Farm Bureau) on continuing outreach efforts (Attachment A).
• September 13, 2016: TAC meets and receives a summary of the July stakeholder outreach meetings. Presentations were made by the project team on the SVIHM model development status. Meeting notes of the September 13th TAC meeting is included as Attachment B.
Model construction will be continuing into October, with initial calibration of the historical model run (1967 - 2014) presented at the November TAC meeting. Model analysis and integration of a reservoir operations module is expected to begin in December.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Monterey County Resources Management Agency is responsible for completing the Salinas River Groundwater Basin Investigation with project technical support and management for this investigation provided by the Monterey County Water Resources Agency.
A 2014 Baseline SVIHM will be configured from the calibrated 1967 - 2014 Historical SVIHM. This baseline model is expected to be available in January 2017 for use in the Agency’s Interlake Tunnel project.
FINANCING:
The Agency’s participation in this project is being financed through an MOU with the County.
Prepared by: Howard Franklin, Senior Hydrologist, (831) 755-4860
Approved by:
David E. Chardavoyne, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Attachment A: Monterey County Farm Bureau Outreach Flyer
2. Attachment B: Technical Advisory Committee - Meeting Notes