The Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency Board of Directors will meet Wednesday evening to consider the adoption of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the Santa Margarita Groundwater Basin (Basin).
SMGWA member agency staff, with support from experts and input from Basin stakeholders, prepared the draft GSP. Developing the Plan is a key responsibility of the agency. A new 8-page Groundwater Sustainability Plan Summary provides a clear and concise overview of the Plan.
The board meeting will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17. Join the meeting online or call in at 1-253-215- 8782 Webinar ID: 810 3173 6924.
The Basin forms a roughly triangular area between Felton, Ben Lomond and Scotts Valley. The Basin provides drinking water for the Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley Water Districts, over a dozen small water systems and around 1,100 parcels served by private wells. Additionally, the groundwater table influences the surface water in the San Lorenzo River, a primary drinking water source for the City of Santa Cruz and a home to endangered species.
The final GSP, which is expected to be adopted by the SMGWA Board of Directors before the end of 2021, will guide long-term management of the groundwater basin to ensure a reliable water supply for community needs and the natural environment of the region. The agency’s work on groundwater sustainability is increasingly important as the region suffers from another drought. The Basin’s GSP must be submitted to the California Department of Water Resources by Jan. 31, 2022.