Title
Consider approving and recommending that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors:
a) Approve a Memorandum of Agreement (Agreement) with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation to participate in the “Salinas and Carmel Rivers Basin Study”, subject to review and approval by the County Counsel; and
b) Authorize the General Manager to execute the Agreement.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
a) Approve and recommend that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors approve a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation to participate in the “Salinas and Carmel Rivers Basin Study”, subject to review and approval by County Counsel; and,
b) Authorize the General Manager to execute the Agreement.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The purpose of the Salinas and Carmel Rivers Basin Study (Basin Study) is to inform and guide future courses of action in response to existing and potential future imbalances between water supplies and demands in the Salinas and Carmel River Basins (CRB). This Basin Study is a collaborative effort between four local partner agencies, and is supported by two Federal agencies. It will identify existing water supplies and demands, model future water supplies and demands, accounting for uncertainties in future climate conditions, population growth, and other socioeconomic trends.
In response to identified imbalances between supplies and demands, the Basin Study will examine a variety of strategies that may be employed to reduce or mitigate these imbalances. Ultimately, this Basin Study will identify a portfolio of strategies to achieve long-term balance between supplies and demands in the Salinas and CRBs.
Four partner agencies (Partners) have proposed to collaborate with Reclamation to complete the Basin Study, with technical contributions to be made by each partner, Reclamation, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The four partner agencies are:
1. San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (SLOCFCWCD)
2. Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA)
3. Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD)
4. Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA)
The Basin Study will be developed in coordination with the Monterey Peninsula Drought Contingency Plan (DCP), which is being managed by the MPWMD. Developed together and sharing hydrology, climate data and other common elements, these two studies will provide a robust view of how potential future climate conditions may impact water supplies and demands. Ultimately, these studies will be used to represent how imbalances between future water supplies and demands may be mitigated or reduced by implementing various actions and adaptation strategies.
The following are overarching goals for this Basin Study:
1. To assist water managers in the Salinas and CRB to make sound decisions regarding water use
2. Ensure that sufficient water supplies will be available in the future
3. Propose adaptation strategies which address potential impacts to water supplies caused by projected climate change
4. Improve water conservation and promote long-term sustainability
5. Provide data and tools which can assist the non-Federal Partners in developing groundwater management plans which are consistent with the requirements of the State’s sustainable groundwater management plan requirements
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
FINANCING:
The financing for this project will be provided by a grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey, and matching efforts from the four local partner agencies. MCWRA participation will be met through the contribution of work performed in existing programs and projects
Prepared by: Howard Franklin, Senior Water Resources Hydrologist, (831) 755.4860
Approved by: ____________________________________________________
David E. Chardavoyne, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Salinas and Carmel Rivers Basin Study Memorandum of Agreement
2. Plan of Study; “Salinas and Carmel Rivers Basin Study”
3. Plan of Study; Appendix A - Task Assignments
4. Board Order