Title
Consider receiving a report "Recommendations to Address the Expansion of Seawater Intrusion in the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin"; and provide direction to staff.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive a report "Recommendations to Address the Expansion of Seawater Intrusion in the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin"; and
b. Provide direction to staff.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
At a Special Joint Meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Monterey County, Board of Supervisors of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency and the Water Resources Agency Board of Directors (Joint Boards) on July 11, 2017 staff presented the 2015 coastal Salinas Valley seawater intrusion contours; and 2015 groundwater elevation contours. The updated extent of seawater intrusion depicted in the seawater intrusion maps along with a discussion of pathways of seawater intrusion demonstrated by the current data prompted a request from the Joint Boards that staff provide recommendations for actions to consider that, if implemented, would slow or halt further expansion of seawater intrusion.
At a meeting of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors on October 16, 2017, staff provided those recommendations in the attached report, "Recommendations to Address the Expansion of Seawater Intrusion in the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin." The report provides a discussion of the current knowledge and related background information surrounding seawater intrusion pathways and potential impacts thereof on the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin. The report also serves as a body of evidence to catalogue the findings used to support the following six recommendations made to slow or halt seawater intrusion and related impacts. In no order of priority:
1. An immediate moratorium on groundwater extractions from new wells in the pressure 400-Foot Aquifer within an identified Area of Impact (with exemp...
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