What is the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency?
In 2017, local GSA-eligible entities jointly developed the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA) to develop Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) and manage groundwater in the Salinas Valley. The SVBGSA represents a range of interests including agriculture, cities, public utility, disadvantaged communities , County, and environmental stakeholders. The Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin includes 9 subbasins, 6 of which fall partially or entirely within the jurisdiction of the SVBGSA. The Department of Water Resources designated all 6 SVBGSA subbasins as either high or medium priority basins. In addition, it designated the 180-400-Foot Aquifer Subbasin as a critically overdrafted basin. In 2020, SVBGSA completed the GSP for the 180/400-Foot Aquifer Subbasin. In 2022, SVBGSA completed GSPs with partner GSAs for its remaining 5 subbasins: the Eastside Aquifer Subbasin, the Forebay Aquifer Subbasin, the Upper Valley Aquifer Subbasin, the Langley Area Subbasin, and the Monterey Subbasin.
The Agency’s eleven-member Board is comprised of diverse interests from across the Salinas Valley.