Forebay and Upper Valley members sought more project review before a July advisory recommendation and August board selection target. Chris Bunn cited an estimated $193 million in annual BGR costs; no fee was approved. Declines in 60% of analyzed Upper Valley wells triggered an action level for further study; the Forebay did not. Both committees approved January minutes. August 3 was selected for the regular meeting, and staff will arrange an additional meeting in late May.
The Salinas Valley Basin GSA/Arroyo Seco GSA Coordination Committee reviewed FY 2027 fee projections and reserve needs but took no fee vote. Revised fee options are expected before the Salinas Valley Basin GSA board in May, with adoption anticipated in June. Staff is preparing corrective-action amendments to all six subbasin groundwater plans, aiming to make drafts available around September and submit amendments in January 2027.
The committee reviewed illustrative pumping-cut scenarios: a hypothetical 50% valley-wide agricultural pumping cut was associated with about $2.8 billion a year in lost economic output, not a forecast of state action. It discussed ASR and CSIP optimization, neither of which would meet seawater-intrusion goals alone, and selected a May 15 special-meeting window. A July–August portfolio recommendation was discussed, not adopted as a deadline.
Modeling found that even eliminating all agricultural pumping in illustrative no-action runs still did not meet seawater intrusion minimum thresholds by 2040. Economic analysis estimated illustrative pumping cuts could reduce irrigated acreage ~11%–17% and gross farm revenue ~10%–13.5%. The updated baseline projects the saltwater front reaching Salinas by ~2060 if current conditions continue, setting the benchmark for evaluating future projects and management actions.
Montgomery & Associates found declining trends in 60% of Upper Valley representative monitoring wells, meeting the 35% long-term review trigger; Forebay was at 11%. Neither subbasin met the short-term drought trigger. The chair linked declines visually to drier conditions, while causes remain under study. The committee approved the January 30 minutes, plans an April 27 briefing and a follow-up memo, and adopted no pumping restrictions.
