SALINAS VALLEY — Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA) Board of Directors on Aug. 12 approved Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) drafts to be released for public comment for the following subbasins: Eastside, Forebay, Langley and Upper Valley.
This comes after the 180/400 Foot Aquifer GSP was among the first to be approved in the state by the California Department of Water Resources in June.
Communities and individuals who rely on the water supply from any of these subbasins are encouraged to learn more about the GSPs and provide input on the plans. The draft GSPs are located on the SVBGSA website svbgsa.org/subbasins.
Plan development is a transparent process and community feedback is critical. The public is invited to provide comments online at tinyurl.com/SalinasValleyBasin now through Oct. 15.
“Groundwater is essential in the Salinas Valley, including the various subbasins that serve residents, businesses, farms, industries and the environment,” said Donna Meyers, general manager for the SVBGSA. “Public input is a very important part of the process in developing these GSPs that will help protect our subbasins and ensure sustainability over the next 20 years.”
Development of subbasin sustainability plans is supported by a Groundwater Sustainability Fee, which will also support future sustainability actions, including conducting research and management activities, as well as monitoring groundwater levels and registering wells. The fee is paid for by irrigated agriculture property owners and small and public water systems within the boundaries of the SVBGSA jurisdiction.
The California State Legislature passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in 2014 in response to a scientific understanding that groundwater in California is being used faster than it is being replenished. The act requires designated groundwater basins to form a public agency to develop a groundwater management plan and implement actions that will help local subbasins reach or maintain groundwater sustainability.
Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency was created in 2017.
