Title
Receive a report on the activities of the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s Seawater Intrusion Group (SVBGSA-SWIG) and the County of Monterey CAO’s Deep Aquifers Wells Working Group (DAWWG).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Basin Management Advisory Committee:
Receive a report on the activities of the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s Seawater Intrusion Group (SVBGSA-SWIG) and the County of Monterey CAO’s Deep Aquifers Wells Working Group (DAWWG).
SUMMARY DISCUSSION:
The formation of a seawater intrusion group was identified in section 9.3.7 of the SVBGSA’s 180/400 Foot Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan. Priority Management Action 6 of that plan states that the “SVBGSA will develop and coordinate a working group to address the issues associated with seawater intrusion.” At the SVBGSA’s May 14, 2020 Board of Directors meeting, Gary Peterson, Senior Advisor to the SVBGSA presented an overview of SWIG organization and mission (Attachment 1). The SWIG is planning to hold a public outreach meeting on August 24, 2020.
At the Monterey County Board of Supervisors meeting on May 19, 2020; in response to the Agency’s presentation of the report “Recommendations to Address the Expansion of Seawater Intrusion in the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin: 2020 Update”, the Supervisors directed the County CAO to form a working advisory group to make recommendations to the CAO regarding the placement of new wells in the 180/400 subbasin of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin.
That group, the Deep Aquifers Wells Working Group (DAWWG), has continued to meet on roughly a weekly basis to deliberate on those recommendations. The DAWWG, which consists of County, Agency and SVBGSA staff, along with representatives from the Farm Bureau and the Growers Shippers Association, plan on scheduling two public forums to provide an opportunity for public deliberations and input.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
None.
FINANCING:
There is no financial impact for receiving this report.
Prepared by: Howard Franklin, Senior Hydrologist, (831) 755-4860
Amy Woodrow, Hydrologist, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. SWIG Presentation