The Advisory Committee did not reach consensus on a single IIS portfolio. Debate focused on Portfolio 3A (~$1.07B capital) and Portfolio 4 (~$612M). Members discussed considerations including cost allocation, injection pilots/aquifer testing, financing, and alternative supplies, and indicated both 3A and 4 should be evaluated with those considerations, though no formal vote was recorded. Staff said they will bring their own recommendation addressing seawater intrusion to the Board.
Both subbasins remain in overdraft despite recent groundwater-level recovery. In the 180/400, seawater intrusion and deep-aquifer levels triggered undesirable results each year evaluated. Staff proposed moving the seawater-intrusion measurable objective from Highway 1 to the 2017 extent; no change was approved. East Side groundwater levels and storage triggered undesirable results in 2021–2023; among sites with sufficient 20-year data, 25% declined, 8% rose and 67% showed no trend.
Staff assessed Upper Valley as in overdraft based on modest groundwater-level declines; Forebay levels were generally stable. The committees reviewed GSP actions and discussed drought planning; participants raised project affordability concerns. No new projects, pumping cutbacks or triggers were approved. The Salinas Valley Basin GSA and Arroyo Seco GSA boards are expected to consider releasing draft GSP amendments for a 90-day public review in August.
At the July 9 joint steering committee meeting, staff discussed selecting a preferred project portfolio for SVBGSA board consideration in August and a requested mid-September extension for a DWR response. The Monterey Subbasin first triggered a seawater-intrusion undesirable result in 2025. New monitoring wells, advancing local projects and planned management actions were discussed as progress. The committee unanimously approved the April 9 minutes; it did not vote on the portfolio.
The board approved FY 2027 groundwater sustainability fees despite a last-minute legal objection over fee authority and cost allocation. Staff presented three remaining project portfolios to address seawater intrusion, with a portfolio decision anticipated in August; Portfolio 1 is the only one shown as meeting seawater intrusion thresholds in the presented effectiveness summary, while staff said Portfolio 3A is close and could work with adjustments.
