The Monterey County Water Resources Agency has collected groundwater extraction and water conservation information through the Groundwater Extraction Management System (GEMS) program since 1993. The GEMS program provides the Agency with the most accurate water use information available to effectively monitor groundwater resources used in the Salinas Valley groundwater basin.

Who is required to report?

Well Owners and Operators are only required to report their extractions when the well is located within the reporting area (see adjacent map) AND also meets the following criteria:

• Agricultural irrigation wells
• Water system wells with more than 15 connections

What information is submitted?

• Monthly groundwater extractions data for the preceding water year are reported,  which is the period from October 1 to September 30.
• Agricultural Water Conservation Plan or Urban Water Conservation Plan summarizing how water was used and the best management practices being implemented.

How is information collected?

• All GEMS data is self-reported using an online web portal where extractors enter their information.

When is information due?

• The web portal will begin accepting groundwater extraction data in early November 2024.
• Groundwater extraction data for Water Year 2024 is due by January 10, 2025. In future years, data will be due by November 1, as specified in MCWRA  Ordinance No. 5426 .

What is the information used for?

• Data collected each year is audited by WRA staff and then summarized into an Annual Summary Report. Previous reports can be found below.

2023 Annual Summary Report

The 2023 Groundwater Extraction Annual Summary Report is now available! 

Presentation to the BOD 

Swipe through the interactive Story Map to the right to see some of the main findings from the report.

Previous Groundwater Extraction Summaries

Salinas Valley Groundwater Usage: An Analysis of 25 Years of Groundwater Extraction Reporting (November 2021)

 Report       Report with Appendices       Presentation to BOD