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The Salinas Valley Basin GSA/Arroyo Seco GSA Coordination Committee approved the April 2, 2025, minutes and quarterly meetings starting in March 2026. Staff discussed improving advance consultation through changes to the coordination agreement. The demand management framework is guidance only, with no automatic measures; the Salinas Valley Basin GSA board is expected to receive it for information in October. The annual report is due April 1, and the five-year groundwater plan evaluation is due January 2027.
The committee unanimously supported a water rights petition that could provide 11,000 acre-feet of additional surface water annually to reduce regional groundwater pumping. Members were reminded that all SGMA Round 1 grant construction projects must be completed by end of 2025, with draft invoices due in March 2026. The committee confirmed it will maintain its current operational structure when transitioning to a new joint powers authority, ensuring continuity in regional water management ...
The board completed a leadership transition with new officers elected, while successfully presenting testimony against the Delta Conveyance Project that could threaten regional water quality and agricultural operations in the area. Current water quality conditions remain favorable with electrical conductivity levels well below contract criteria and most reservoir levels at or above historical averages.
La Niña conditions are developing and expected to peak before year-end, potentially bringing extreme weather swings between dry periods and intense storms that could particularly impact Central Valley and Southern California. Southern California experienced its third driest water year on record with only 25-50% of average precipitation, while the North saw above-average rainfall. Federal budget cuts are reducing critical water monitoring capabilities by up to 30%, affecting stream gauging,..
Water supply reliability projections show increased shortage risks, with probability rising from 5% to 18% by 2045 even under flat demand scenarios due to supply challenges. Staff presented preliminary assessments of two major projects: Pure Water Southern California ($2.7-9.6 billion for recycled water) and Sites Reservoir ($1.7 billion for additional storage capacity). The committee discussed developing themed project portfolios rather than evaluating individual investments separately.
