Board Approves Recharge & Recovery Plans
On Jan. 20, the Pajaro Valley Water Board of Directors voted unanimously to certify the final environmental impact report for the Watsonville Slough System managed aquifer recharge and recovery projects and approve the PVWMA projects.
With this action, the board has approved all the Phase 1 projects in the Basin Management Plan Update.
The Phase 1 projects were determined to be the most cost-effective new water supply projects to help stop groundwater overdraft, seawater intrusion and reach groundwater sustainability.
“PV Water has prepared, certified, and approved two EIRs for two critical water supply projects (College Lake and the Sloughs) within 16 months,” said General Manager Brian Lockwood. “This is a significant achievement during the best of times, let alone over the course of a once-in-a-century pandemic. “
“The project approval also positions us well when applying for grant funding,” he added.
The projects will include a new pump station at Struve Slough, a pipeline connecting the new diversion with the existing Harkins Slough water treatment facility, a pipeline to new recharge basins, and recovery wells.
The facilities will be located on the San Andreas terrace, adjacent to Pajaro Valley Water’s existing recharge basin and recovery wells.
The next steps for the PVWMA projects include continued stakeholder outreach, evaluating grants and other funding opportunities, and pursuing environmental permits.
Project information, including all documents and presentations delivered to the Board, is at pvwater.org.
The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency is a state-chartered district formed to manage water supplies to prevent further increase in and to accomplish continuing reduction of long-term overdraft. The agency also works to ensure sufficient water supplies for present and future needs within the greater coastal Pajaro Valley.
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For more info, visit www.pvwater.org or www.facebook.com/PajaroValleyWater.