Apply to Serve on the SVBGSA Advisory Committee
The Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA) is accepting applications for its Advisory Committee. The SVBGSA is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) governed by an 11-member Board of Directors. The Advisory Committee’s purpose is to provide input and recommendations to the Board on groundwater-related issues. The Advisory Committee considers and incorporates community and stakeholder views into consensus recommendations, with a focus on implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in the Salinas Valley through the integrated implementation of the six Groundwater Sustainability Plans.
The Committee members represent the diverse interests of the agencies and groundwater users in the SVBGSA’s jurisdiction.
The expectations for Committee members are to:
- Serve as a strong, effective advocate
- Work collaboratively with others
- Commit time needed for understanding the issues
- Collectively reflect a diversity of views
- Conduct focused and productive deliberations
- Uphold and follow the SVBGSA Code of Conduct
The Advisory Committee consists of 11 to 13 members, appointed to represent key stakeholder groups and subbasin implementation areas, as follows:
| Seat Type | Number of Seats |
|---|---|
| 180/400 Subbasin Committee | 1 |
| Eastside Subbasin Committee | 1 |
| Langley Subbasin Committee | 1 |
| Monterey Subbasin Committee | 1 |
| Forebay Subbasin Committee | 1 |
| Upper Valley Subbasin Committee | 1 |
| Monterey County Water Resources Agency | 1 |
| Arroyo Seco Groundwater Sustainability Agency | 1 |
| Marina Coast Water District Groundwater Sustainability Agency | 1 |
| Monterey One Water | 1 |
| Board-Designated Members | Up to 3 |
| Total Seats: 11 to 13 |
Advisory Committee members may not concurrently serve on the SVBGSA Board of Directors either as a primary or alternate member. Each appointed member shall serve a term of three (3) years and, to maintain continuity, shall hold office until their successor is appointed. Members may be reappointed for additional terms.
Applications for the Subbasin Committee Seats will be considered at the following meetings:
- 180/400 Subbasin Committee: Thursday, August 7, 1-3pm
- Eastside Subbasin Committee: Monday, August 11, 10am-12pm
- Forebay Subbasin Committee: TBD (tentatively in August)
- Langley Subbasin Committee: Wednesday, September 3, 9-11am
- Monterey Subbasin Committee: Wednesday, August 27, 12-2pm
- Upper Valley Subbasin Committee: TBD (tentatively in August
At these meetings, each Subbasin Committee will nominate one individual to be their Subbasin’s representative on the Advisory Committee.
Concurrent with the Subbasin Committee process, four partner agencies (Monterey County Water Resources Agency, Arroyo Seco Groundwater Sustainability Agency, Marina Coast Water District Groundwater Sustainability Agency, and Monterey One Water) will each be nominating a representative for their organization for the Advisory Committee. Please only select the Partner Agency seats in the application if you are your agency’s nominee.
An addition to the Subbasin Committee seats and the Partner Agency seats, there are Board-Designated Member seats that any individual can apply for. The Advisory Committee Charter and Bylaws directs the Board to appoint between one and three individuals for these seats.
The SVBGSA Board will then appoint the six Subbasin Committee nominations, the four Partner Agency nominations, and up to three of the Board-Designated applicants all together at the September 11, 2025 regular meeting. The newly seated Advisory Committee members will meet for the first time at the October 16 regular meeting. Any questions on this application process can be sent to clerk@svbgsa.org.
Applications closed on August 7, 2025, at 12:00 p.m.