Disclaimer

Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part by Proposition 1 - the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the foregoing, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

Overview

The Protection of Domestic Drinking Water Supplies for the Lower Salinas Valley project is funded in part by a Proposition 1 Implementation Grant from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The funding is to destroy a minimum of one hundred abandoned or inactive wells in the Salinas Valley to prevent vertical migration of seawater- and nitrate-contaminated groundwater to drinking water supply wells in the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin.

Project Location

The Project area is located in the coastal Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin. The Project lies within the 180/400 Foot Aquifer Subbasin of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin and is primarily coincident with MCWRA's Zone 2B (the CSIP Area). 

Project Funding

Financing for the Protection of Domestic Drinking Water Supplies for the Lower Salinas Valley project totals $9,125,524. The Proposition 1 Implementation Grant is providing 54% of these funds and MCWRA is providing the remaining 46% as match. The MCWRA match is being met through a combination of in-kind services totaling $1,534,495 and additional funds totaling $2,663,300. 

MCWRA has received contributions toward the Project from the following outside entities, which help to offset the amount of additional funds that MCWRA needs to provide. 

• The Board of Supervisors of Monterey County approved a contribution of $399,499 from the Cannabis Assignment to the Project for Fiscal Year 2020-2021.

• Castroville Community Services District contributed $83,000 in 2021.

• Monterey One Water contributed $65,000 in 2021. 

Current Project Activity

July 2021 - MCWRA solicited bids for well destruction contractors to work on the Project. Agreements with the selected contractors will be finalized in August 2021.  

February 2021 - MCWRA is meeting with well owners and operators who appealed the decision to reclassify or destroy a well. 

January 2021 - MCWRA contacted well owners and operators with notifications of pending well reclassification or destruction. MCWRA Ordinance No. 3790 includes an appeal process for the notifications.

Where Can I Find Out More?

- Grant agreement

- MCWRA provides an update on the Project each month to the MCWRA Basin Management Advisory Committee. 

- Past presentations on the Project are also available:

• May 26, 2021 Public Workshop: Slides, Video of meeting, Meeting Audio only
• February 22, 2021 @ SVBGSA Seawater Intrusion Group
• February 18, 2021 @ SVBGSA Advisory Committee
• January 21, 2021 @ Monterey County Water Recycling Projects - Water Quality & Operations Committee
• November 17, 2020 @ Monterey County Water Recycling Projects - Water Quality & Operations Committee
• September 21, 2020 @ Monterey County Water Recycling Projects - Water Quality & Operations Committee

Reference Documents Relevant to the Project

• MCWRA Ordinance No. 3790
• MCWRA Ordinance No. 3910 
• 1994 report on well destruction prioritization

Monterey County Water Resources Agency
1441 Schilling Pl., North Bldg., Salinas, CA 93901

    Phone (831) 755-4860   |   FAX (831) 424-7935   |   After Hours (831) 796-1166

Email: mcwater@countyofmonterey.gov