SANTA MARGARITA GROUNDWATER AGENCY DRAFT PLAN IMPACTS RESIDENTS IN SAN LORENZO VALLEY AND SCOTTS VALLEY AREAS
SCOTTS VALLEY, CA – The Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency’s draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan will close Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, following a 60-day public comment period.
A key responsibility of the Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency (SMGWA) is to develop, adopt and submit a 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, which the SGMWA’s Board of Directors reviewed on Thursday, July 22, 2021, kicking off the public comment period.
Members of the public are encouraged to explore the draft GSP and submit comments using the form available at smgwa.org.
The Basin forms a roughly triangular area between Felton, Ben Lomond and Scotts Valley. This Basin is a source of drinking water for Scotts Valley Water District, San Lorenzo Valley Water District, over a dozen small water systems and approximately 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 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 January 31, 2022.
ABOUT SANTA MARGARITA GROUNDWATER AGENCY
The Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency (SMGWA) is a joint powers authority comprised of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, Scotts Valley Water District and the County of Santa Cruz, to oversee the groundwater management activities in the Santa Margarita Groundwater Basin in Santa Cruz County, California. The agency was established in 2017. The Board of Directors of the SMGWA includes two board members from each of the member agencies, one from the City of Scotts Valley, one from the City of Santa Cruz, one from the Mount Hermon Association Community Water System and two well owner representatives. Learn more at www.smgwa.org, on Facebook and on Instagram.