Title
Receive report on Monterey County Ordinance 5303
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Basin Management Advisory Committee:
Receive the report on Monterey County Ordinance 5303.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
In October 2017, Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) Staff published a Recommendations Report (2017 Recommendations Report) to address the expansion of seawater intrusion in the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin (https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/government-links/water-resources-agency/documents/hydrogeologic-reports#wra). In the report, six recommendations aimed at halting seawater intrusion in the coastal region were outlined. After presenting to the Board of Supervisors, a ninety-day working group between MCWRA and the Salinas Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency was formed. This group crafted recommendations that were based on the 2017 Recommendations Report, which were later written into an interim ordinance. Monterey County Ordinance 5302 placed a temporary moratorium on the drilling of new wells in the Pressure 180-Foot and Pressure 400-Foot Aquifers in a defined 'Area of Impact'. It also prohibited new wells from being drilled into the Deep Aquifers, with the exception of replacement, domestic and municipal supply wells. Ordinance 5302 was set to expire on July 5, 2018 unless it was extended. Monterey County Ordinance 5303 extended interim Ordinance 5302 but is set to expire May 21, 2020.
Staff is currently working on updating the 2017 Recommendations Report based on the MCWRA's most recent information and data analysis. The updated report will also evaluate the effectiveness of Ordinance 5303 towards the original recommendations proposed by the Agency to halt seawater intrusion. Once completed, the updated report will be brought to the Basin Management Advisory Committee, Board of Directors and Board of Supervisors.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
FINANCING:
There is no financial impact in receiving this report.
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