Groundwater Sustainability Plan

Monterey County Groundwater Sustainability Agency is accepting public comments on the
180/400 Ft. Aquifer Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan

Overview

In September of 2014, Governor Edmund G. Brown signed into law the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 (SGMA), which changed the landscape of groundwater management in California.  SGMA is a comprehensive package of legislation that sets the framework for statewide sustainable groundwater management and declares that such authority be given to local public agencies that have either water supply or land use authority, or both.

SGMA requires, among other things, the formation of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to manage local groundwater basins.  GSAs are the local agencies responsible for the development and implementation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs), which are designed to ensure groundwater sustainability over a 20-year implementation period.  GSPs are focused on the development and implementation of long-term groundwater sustainability programs, plans, and practices over a 50-year planning horizon.

Notice of Intent to Adopt GSP

Pursuant to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and California Water Code Section 10728.8, the Monterey County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (Monterey County GSA) hereby provides notice of its intent to adopt a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the 180/400 foot Aquifer Subbasin, which includes the entire boundary of the GSA and the property commonly referred to as the “CEMEX” site.  Consistent with SGMA, notice was previously provided to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and posted to their portal.  Subsequent to the notice to DWR, the Monterey County GSA held a public meeting regarding the GSP on January 28, 2020.  However, the Monterey County GSA intends to consider adopting the GSP at a future public meeting, following a 90-day public comment period of the plan.

The Monterey County GSA is seeking public comment on the GSP.  Interested parties wishing to provide comments on the GSP are encouraged to do so electronically at the following email address: GSP-Comments@countyofmonterey.gov.

The proposed GSP was also recently adopted by the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency after a lengthy public participation process. The plan may be reviewed at the following Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA) website https://svbgsa.org/groundwater-sustainability-plan/180-400-ft-aquifer/.