Monterey County Groundwater Management Plan

Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) | May 17th, 2006

In 1992, California State Legislature adopted the Groundwater Management Act (California Water Code Part 2.7, §10753), originally enacted as Assembly Bill (AB) 3030 and

In 1992, California State Legislature adopted the Groundwater Management Act (California Water Code Part 2.7, §10753), originally enacted as Assembly Bill (AB) 3030 and amended by Senate Bill (SB) 1938 in 2002. The Groundwater Management Act provided the authority to prepare groundwater management plans and encouraged local agencies to work cooperatively to manage groundwater resources within their jurisdictions and groundwater basins. Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA), recognizing that management of its natural water resources is critical to ensuring a long-term sustainable and reliable good quality water supply, has prepared this Groundwater Management Plan (GWMP). The purpose of the GWMP is to provide a comprehensive overview of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin and to recommend various management strategies for the basin. Specifically, this document provides the framework for the management of groundwater resources in the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin (exclusive of the Seaside and Paso Robles subareas) and acts as a guidance document for future groundwater projects. While this edition of the GWMP focuses on the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin, MCWRA is responsible for the management of the water resources for all of Monterey County. Future GWMP versions will incorporate the additional groundwater basins in the County. This document has been prepared in accordance with existing regulations as outlined in the California Water Code (as referenced above) and was prepared in coordination with local agencies and interested residents through public outreach activities.

More state and local attention to financing can advance sustainable groundwater management

Berkeley Law Center for Law, Energy, & the Environment | April 12th, 2025

Mound Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan

Mound Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency | December 31st, 2021

The goal of this GSP is to sustainably manage the groundwater resources of the Mound Basin for the benefit of current and anticipated future beneficial users of groundwat

The goal of this GSP is to sustainably manage the groundwater resources of the Mound Basin for the benefit of current and anticipated future beneficial users of groundwater and the welfare of the general public who rely directly or indirectly on groundwater. This GSP describes the approach to achieve and maintain a sustainable groundwater resource free of undesirable results pursuant to the SGMA, while establishing long-term reliability no later than 20 years from GSP adoption through implementation. Due to size, this file has been divided into three parts. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Movement and Age of Ground Water in the Western Part of the Mojave Desert, Southern California, USA

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | July 15th, 2004

Tritium and carbon-14 data in water from wells in the Mojave River and the Morongo groundwater basins in the western part of the Mojave Desert show recent recharge focuse

Tritium and carbon-14 data in water from wells in the Mojave River and the Morongo groundwater basins in the western part of the Mojave Desert show recent recharge focused in the floodplain aquifer along the Mojave River. Older ground water was present in parts of the regional aquifer that surround and underlie the floodplain aquifer. Movement of water between the floodplain and the regional aquifers occurs near on the upgradient side of faults as water from the regional aquifer discharges to the floodplain aquifer and on the downgradient side of the faults where water from the floodplain aquifer recharges the regional aquifer. On the basis of carbon-14 ages, corrected for mineralogic reactions with aquifer materials, water from some wells was recharged more than 20,000 years ago. Geochemical data show ground-water recharge has gradually decreased as the climate changed since that time.

Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program Annual Report 2023

California Department of Conservation (CDoC) | April 9th, 2024

The Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) increases regional capacity for repurposing irrigated agricultural land to uses that reduce reliance on groundwat

The Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) increases regional capacity for repurposing irrigated agricultural land to uses that reduce reliance on groundwater while providing community health, economic well-being, water supply, habitat, renewable energy, and climate benefits. The program provides funding for regional block grants, tribal grants, and a Statewide Support Entity to provide technical assistance to block grantees and support progress toward program goals.

Multiple-well monitoring site adjacent to the Elk Hills Oil Field, Kern County, California

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | October 26th, 2023

Multiple-Well Monitoring Site Adjacent to the Lost Hills Oil Field, Kern County, California

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | February 20th, 2020

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the California State Water Resources Control Board, is evaluating several questions about oil and gas devel

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the California State Water Resources Control Board, is evaluating several questions about oil and gas development and groundwater resources in California, including (1) the location of groundwater resources; (2) the proximity of oil and gas operations and groundwater and the geologic materials between them; (3) evidence for or against fluids from oil and gas sources in groundwater; and (4) the pathways or processes responsible when fluids from oil and gas sources are present in groundwater (U.S. Geological Survey, 2019). As part of this evaluation, the USGS installed a multiple-well monitoring site in the southern San Joaquin Valley near Lost Hills, California, adjacent to the Lost Hills oil field. Data collected at the Lost Hills multiple-well monitoring site (LHSP) provide information about the geology, hydrology, geophysics, and geochemistry of the aquifer system, thus enhancing understanding of relations between adjacent groundwater and the Lost Hills oil field in an area where there is little groundwater data. This report presents construction information for the LHSP and initial geohydrologic data collected from the site.

Multiple-Well Monitoring Site Within the Poso Creek Oil Field, Kern County, California

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | July 18th, 2023

The Poso Creek Oil Field is one of the many fields selected for regional groundwater mapping and monitoring by the California State Water Resources Control Board as part

The Poso Creek Oil Field is one of the many fields selected for regional groundwater mapping and monitoring by the California State Water Resources Control Board as part of the Oil and Gas Regional Monitoring Program (RMP; California State Water Resources Control Board, 2015, 2022b; U.S. Geological Survey, 2022a). The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the California State Water Resources Control Board, is evaluating several questions about oil and gas development and groundwater resources in California, including (1) the location of groundwater resources; (2) the proximity of oil and gas operations to groundwater and the geologic materials between them; (3) evidence (or no evidence) of fluids from oil and gas sources in groundwater; and (4) the pathways or processes responsible when fluids from oil and gas sources are present in groundwater (U.S. Geological Survey, 2022a). As part of this evaluation, the USGS installed a multiple-well monitoring site within the administrative boundary of the Poso Creek Oil Field about 12 miles north of Bakersfield, California (fig. 1). Data collected at the Poso Creek multiple-well monitoring site (PCCT) provide information about the geology, hydrology, geophysical properties, and water quality of the aquifer system overlying the oil-bearing zone, thus enhancing understanding of relations between adjacent groundwater and the Poso Creek Oil Field in an area where groundwater data are limited, particularly at different depths in the aquifer. This report presents construction information for the PCCT and initial geohydrologic data collected from the site. Similar sites installed on the east side of the Lost Hills Oil Field and North and South Belridge Oil Fields were described by Everett and others (2020a, b).

Multiyear Water Quality Performance and Mass Accumulation of PCBs, Mercury, Methylmercury, Copper, and Microplastics in a Bioretention Rain Garden

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) | November 1st, 2019

A multiyear water quality performance study of a bioretention rain garden located along a major urban transit corridor east of San Francisco Bay was conducted to assess t

A multiyear water quality performance study of a bioretention rain garden located along a major urban transit corridor east of San Francisco Bay was conducted to assess the efficacy of bioretention rain gardens to remove pollutants. Based on data collected in three years between 2012 and 2017, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and suspended sediment concentrations (SSCs) were reduced (>90%>90%), whereas total mercury (Hg), methylmercury (MeHg), and copper (Cu) were moderately captured (37%, 49%, and 68% concentration reduction, respectively). Anthropogenic microparticles including microplastics were retained by the bioretention rain garden, decreasing in concentration from 1.6particles/L1.6  particles/L to 0.16particles/L0.16  particles/L. Based on subsampling at 50- and 150-mm intervals in soil cores from two areas of the unit, PCBs, Hg, and MeHg were all present at the highest concentrations in the upper 100 mm in the surface media layers. Based on residential screening concentrations, the surface media layer near the inlet would need to be removed and replaced annually, whereas the rest of the unit would need replacement every 8 years. The results of this study support the use of bioretention in the San Francisco Bay Area as one management option for meeting load reductions required by San Francisco Bay total maximum daily loads, and provide useful data for supporting decisions about media replacement and overall maintenance schedules.

Municipal Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update for the Orange County Water District Including a Feasibility Analysis of the Potential Consolidation of Orange County Water District and Municipal Water District of Orange County

Local Agency Formation Commission of Orange County | November 15th, 2024