Workshops

Sustainable Groundwater Management Feasibility Studies Workshop

The Monterey County Water Resources Agency and the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency are hosting a joint boards workshop on May 18, at 9:30 a.m., at 1441 Schilling Place, Salinas.

The workshop is intended to bring together our respective Board members, staff, and consultants for a detailed review of the findings from several recently completed feasibility studies on projects aimed at advancing groundwater sustainability in the Salinas Valley. This includes Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR), Brackish Groundwater Restoration (BGR), Castroville and Eastside Canals and Alternatives (C&E), New Seawater Intrusion Project (NCIP), Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project (CSIP) Optimization and Demand Management. All projects are evaluated against a baseline scenario. This work is documented in a series of studies and reports that were submitted to the California Department of Water Resources at the end of March. These materials are the foundation for consideration of projects and management actions (PMA) portfolios over the summer and fall, as the SVBGSA Board of Directors is expected to select a preferred implementation path in Fall 2026 and is preparing periodic evaluations of its Groundwater Sustainability Plans by January 2027.

To ensure adequate space and seating, please RSVP by emailing Lorena Imperial at imperiall@countyofmonterey.gov.

Public participation in the workshop is encouraged through Zoom. To attend the workshop, click on this link and use the password “581522”.

Salinas River Workshops

Landowners, growers and others are invited to join SVBGSA, RCDMC and other partners at workshops on river management in the Salinas Valley on May 7 and 8.

The May 7 workshop will be in Soledad and the May 8 workshop will be in Salinas. Both will be 9-11 a.m., and the content will be identical.

The workshops will share information and encourage participant feedback on new analyses on factors contributing to flooding and flood impacts; allowable river management activities under existing programs; and other water, vegetation, and program management approaches to explore.

Participation will help guide future program development, permitting, and funding efforts. The workshops are co-hosted by the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County and the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency, in partnership with the Monterey County Water Resources Agency, Monterey County Farm Bureau, Salinas River Management Unit Association, and Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, there will be workshops in both South County and Salinas.

Participation will help guide future program development, permitting, and funding efforts.

Space is limited for both workshops and RSVPs are encouraged. Learn more and RSVP to the workshops.

Deep Aquifer Well Owner Workshop

Join Marina Coast Water District, Monterey County Water Resources Agency, the County of Monterey and the Salinas Valley Basin GSA for an informal workshop to discuss recommended options for interim and long-term management actions for the Deep Aquifers and hear about next steps toward decision making.

The May 20 workshop will have in-person and virtual options. Attend in-person at the Marina Coast Water District office, 930 2nd Avenue Suite B in Marina. Click here to attend by Zoom.

Contact Amy Woodrow at WoodrowA@countyofmonterey.gov with questions.

2026 Water Leadership Institute

The Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Rural Community Assistance Corporation co-hosted the 2026 Water Leadership Institute in the Salinas Valley. To learn more about the institute, visit the institute website or watch this short video.

The Water Leadership Institute builds leadership skills and knowledge so people from underserved and underrepresented communities can take an active role in local water and groundwater decision-making. Through a series of free, bilingual monthly workshops, the Institute offered a unique opportunity for interested community members to come together, learn from one another, and develop equitable, long-lasting water solutions. The WLI was held January to March 2026.

Our Water Future in the Salinas Valley: Planning for Uncertainty

Five community workshops — Our Water Future in the Salinas Valley: Planning for Uncertainty — were held across the Salinas Valley over April and May 2024.

The workshops provided valuable information about how water is managed in the Valley, the steps residents and businesses have taken toward more efficient water use, and the wide range of options for us to consider in minimizing water waste, improving efficiencies and reallocating resources to ensure continued availability of water for the Salinas Valley Basin.

Workshops 2020-22 Presentation Archive

Overview of Demand Management Workshop 10/31/22 (PDF)
Demand Management Workshop video.

El Manejo del Consumo del Agua Subterránea 10/31/22 (PDF)

Deep Aquifers Workshop 10/03/22 (PDF)
Deep Aquifers Workshop video.

SVIHM and SVOM Model Workshop 06/30/2021 (PDF)
SVIHM and SVOM Model Workshop video.

Water Budgets Workshop 02/24/2021 (PDF)
Water Budgets Workshop video.

Funding Mechanisms Workshop 01/27/2021
Funding Mechanisms Workshop video.

Sustainable Management Criteria 07/28/2020 (PDF)
Sustainable Management Criteria Workshop video.

Brown Act and Conflict of Interest 07/22/2020 (PDF)
Brown Act and Conflict of Interest Workshop video.

Water Law 08/10/2020 (PDF)
Water Law Workshop video.

Watershed Workshop 08/26/2020 (PDF)
Watershed Workshop video