Pajaro Valley Water Kicks Off Next Phase to Full House
“We’re in the early stages of implementing our Basin Management Plan,” said PV Water Board Chair Rosemarie Imazio. “That’s why it’s so important to hear from you,” she told the audience.
General Manager Brian Lockwood explained that California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) legislation placed new requirements on communities like the Pajaro Valley. This legislation mandates that groundwater basins such as the Pajaro Valley achieve a sustainable water supply by 2040 or the State Water Resources Control Board may intervene and impose pumping restrictions to balance the basin.
The plan proposes utilizing College Lake, northeast of Watsonville. The proposed College Lake Project would increase the storage capacity of the lake, allowing water to be stored, treated, and delivered for agricultural irrigation.
Audience members queried PV Water about the proposed College Lake Project timelines for communicating with potentially affected property owners, and the effects of the project on riparian and natural habitat. They also had several questions about proposed and existing recharge facilities, and where the most efficient recharge areas are located within the Valley.
Kirk Schmidt, co-chair of the Basin Management Planning committee and a local farmer, noted that PV Water is ahead of the curve by 30 years and PV Water is going to succeed in meeting the State’s mandates by 2025 or 2030. “We will serve as a model for achieving sustainability without a reduction in agriculture, and we’ve done it within our own community.” Schmidt encouraged community members to participate in future meetings because “PV Water is reliant on community support to make it all work.”
Chair Imazio encouraged the community to get involved by attending board and committee meetings and participating in the environmental review process. PV Water will hold a public scoping meeting this fall for the College Lake Project, initiating the environmental review process.
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A copy of the community meeting presentation and fact sheet is available at pvwater.org under the NEWS tab and comments can be sent to info@pvwater.org.