Forebay Aquifer Subbasin Map

The Forebay Aquifer Subbasin stretches from Gonzales to Greenfield, overlapping with the Arroyo Seco Management Area.

The Forebay Aquifer Subbasin Committee meets quarterly on the fourth Monday of the month at 1 p.m. (January, April, July, October). Get meeting information.

Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP):

Groundwater Sustainability Plans provide a long-term framework for managing groundwater in accordance with California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The Forebay Subbasin GSP describes groundwater conditions, establishes measurable sustainability goals, and identifies the projects and management actions needed to achieve and maintain groundwater sustainability.

As needed, a GSA may amend its GSP.  A GSP Amendment formally revises an adopted GSP when changes are needed to its management approach, sustainability criteria, projects, management actions, or other core elements. Amendments must be submitted to DWR with a Periodic Evaluation that explains and supports the changes. In response to DWR’s required revisions to the sustainability goals, in conjunction with the 2027 Periodic Evaluations, SVBGSA and the Arroyo Seco GSA are preparing the Forebay GSP Amendment 1 to replace the original GSP. For more information on the 2027 Salinas Valley GSP Amendments and Periodic Evaluations, see the Fact Sheet.

Draft Forebay Subbasin GSP Amendment 1

Public comments received by Nov. 18, 2026, will be included in the agenda packet for the Board meeting on December 10, 2026. At this meeting, the Board will discuss and provide input on the draft GSP amendments prior to the public hearing. Please submit comments on the draft amendment by this date. All comments received by Nov. 18, 2026, as well as any subsequent comments, will also be included Jan. 14, 2027, public hearing record and in the final GSP appendix of public comments.

Submit comments for inclusion in the public hearing record using this webform.

SVBGSA intends to hold a public hearing on Jan. 14, 2027, on the proposed GSP Amendment.

To submit general questions, email clerk@svbgsa.org

Periodic Evaluations are comprehensive assessments of GSP implementation prepared at least once every five years. They evaluate whether implementation is meeting interim milestones and remains on track to achieve the groundwater sustainability goal. They also consider new information, changes in groundwater conditions, monitoring improvements, and whether revisions to the GSP may be warranted.

  • Forebay GSP 2027 Periodic Evaluation (anticipated Jan 2027)
  • 2027 Periodic Evaluation Combined Appendices (anticipated Jan 2027)

Annual Reports provide a yearly update on groundwater conditions and GSP implementation. They summarize monitoring data from the previous water year, evaluate conditions in relation to the GSP’s sustainability criteria, and report progress on projects, management actions, and efforts to address data gaps. Annual Reports are submitted to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) by April 1 each year.