Few issues are more important to Monterey County than water. LandWatch is working to make sure that future development doesn't lead to continued water overdraft, and that adequate water supplies are assured before development proceeds.
LandWatch Comments On The Aromas Water District’s proposal To Annex 1,720 Acres Into Service Area (112K PDF file)
Blurb: LandWatch sent a letter to the Aromas Water District and LAFCO on November 22, 2011 regarding AWD’s Sphere of Influence (SOI) amendment to add approximately 1,720 acres within the District’s SOI boundary within Monterey County. The proposed annexation includes two existing subdivisions to the Aromas Water District and provision of domestic water service to approximately 72 existing homes; the annexation areas are within the proposed SOI amendment area. The proposal also includes the creation of assessment district to finance improvements for proposed annexation areas and the construction of water system improvements to serve the proposed annexation areas, which includes extension of water lines and construction of accessory water system improvements. LandWatch raised questions about the legality of the proposed delivery of water out of the overdrafted groundwater Pajaro Valley Groundwater Basin to Via del Sol. We stated that neither PVWMA nor Monterey County has the authority to grant approval for the out-of-basin transfer of Pajaro Valley Groundwater into the Moro Cojo/Salinas Valley Watershed. The PVWMA authorizing statue prohibits out of basin transfers, and there is no justification under California law or CEQA that allows PVWMA to ignore the overlying rights of Pajaro Valley landowners.
Marina Coast Water District Seeks To Annex All Of Fort Ord (144K PDF file)
Marina Coast Water District is proposing to annex the entire Fort Ord area. LandWatch sent a letter to both MCWD and LAFCO on November 17, 2011 questioning this proposal. We reviewed the Draft Initial Study/Negative Declaration for proposed changes to the MCWD jurisdictional boundaries. The project would amend MCWD’s Sphere of Influence and expand its Service Area to include all of the former Fort Ord including lands within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army. MCWD currently provides service to this area as outlined in the 1998 Water/Wastewater Facilities Agreement between FORA and MCWD which expires when FORA sunsets in 2014. The proposed project would allow water and wastewater service to continue beyond the FORA expiration and provide customers the right to vote for MCWD Board of Directors. We asked a variety of questions about the proposal and LandWatch outlined these questions at the LAFCO hearing on December 5th. (02.02.12)
LandWatch Comments on Marina Coast Water District’s Proposal to Expand Its Service Area To Encompass All of Fort Ord
LandWatch submitted a letter to both Marina Coast Water District and LAFCO on November 17th commenting on the Draft Initial Study/Negative Declaration for proposed changes to the MCWD jurisdictional boundaries. The project would amend MCWD’s Sphere of Influence and expand its Service Area to include all of the former Fort Ord including lands within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army. MCWD currently provides service to this area as outlined in the 1998 Water/Wastewater Facilities Agreement between FORA and MCWD which expires when FORA sunsets. The proposed project would allow water and wastewater service to continue beyond the FORA expiration and provide customers the right to vote for MCWD Board of Directors. (12.10.11)
LandWatch Comments On The Aromas Water District’s Proposal To Increase Its Sphere of Influence To Include Two Neighborhoods In Monterey County
LandWatch submitted a letter to the Aromas Water District and LAFCO on November 22nd regarding AWD’s proposal which includes: Sphere of Influence (SOI) amendment to add approximately 1,720 acres within the AWD’s SOI boundary within Monterey County; annexation of two existing subdivisions to the AWD and provision of domestic water service to approximately 72 existing homes; the annexation areas are within the proposed SOI amendment area; creation of an assessment district to finance improvements for the proposed annexation areas; and construction of water system improvements to serve the proposed annexation areas, which includes extension of water lines and construction of accessory water system improvements. We commented that the proposed delivery of water is an illegal appropriation/export out of the overdrafted groundwater Pajaro Valley Groundwater Basin to Via del Sol. Neither PVWMA nor Monterey County has the authority to grant approval for the out-of-basin transfer of Pajaro Valley Groundwater into the Moro Cojo/Salinas Valley Watershed. The PVWMA authorizing statue prohibits out of basin transfers, and there is no justification under California law or CEQA that allows PVWMA to ignore the overlying rights of Pajaro Valley landowners. (12.10.11)
LandWatch, along with the Carmel Valley Association, supports a contingency plan for the Regional Project
On May 18, 2011 LandWatch sent a letter to the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District supporting the request of the Carmel Valley Association Water Committee to pursue a contingency plan in case the Regional Desalination Projects stalls.
Addendum to Coastal Water Project EIR
On April 25th, LandWatch submitted technical comments to the County Board of Supervisors on the Regional Water Project EIR Addendum for the Test Well Program. LandWatch pointed out that the Addendum was released very late to the public, giving a limited amount of time to review the document. Additionally, a new environmental impact report is required under the California Environmental Quality Act rather than an Addendum to the existing one. (05.05.11)
Issues related to regional water project and settlement/financial agreement developed by the LWV/MP, LandWatch, Sierra Club and Carmel Valley Association
In order to help you better understand LandWatch's concerns with the Regional Project and
related Settlement Agreements (as currently proposed), click on this link to read a list of issues
developed by the League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula, LandWatch, Sierra Club,
and the Carmel Valley Association. (06.26.10)
LandWatch Questions Marina Coast Water District and the County of Monterey about a Proposed Agreement to Accept Millions in Reimbursements from California American Water for Work on the Regional Project
On Wednesday, February 24th, the Marina Coast Water District approved an agreement with California American Water (Cal-Am) to accept reimbursement for work to be performed by the District and Monterey County Water Resources Agency through the end of the year. Up to $4.3 million would be provided to these agencies which would repay the loan. However, under the agreement, Cal-Am could forgive the loan. The agreement, only posted 24 hours for the public to review, may violate the California Environmental Quality Act and Local Agency Formation Commission requirements. Cal-Am ratepayers on the Peninsula could also end up paying for a project that would benefit non-Cal-Am customers. The same agreement was approved by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in closed session on Friday, February 26th. (03.02.10)
The letters below were submitted to Marina Coast Water District and the County last week.
What’s
new with the Coastal Water Project?
On December
17, 2009, The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) certified
the 3,100 page Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the
Coastal Water Project. Certification (finding the document adequate)
was originally scheduled for January 2010, but the action was
expedited to December presumably to enable local agencies to
use the document for their actions.
LandWatch and the Salinas Valley Ag Trust submit letters on Final
EIR for the Coastal Water Project
LandWatch Monterey County recently
submitted a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC) on the final environmental impact report (FEIR) for
the Coastal Water Project. LandWatch is very concerned about
the potential growth-inducing impacts of the project and the
potential impacts on North County’s water supply. (02.05.10)
LandWatch supports the Hybrid Regional Water Plan at the CA Public Utilities Commission Hearing
On July 13th LandWatch and a group of environmental groups testified at the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) hearing that took place right in Monterey’s City Hall. We presented the Hybrid Regional Water Plan as the environmentally superior alternative to the Coastal Water Project. Below is the LandWatch letter submitted to the PUC administrative law judge, Judge Minkin, and Commissioner John Bohn. (07.19.09)
Hybrid Regional Water Plan: The Environmentally Superior Alternative
LandWatch and a group of community stakeholders developed a Hybrid Regional Water Plan, endorsed to date by the League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula, the Prunedale Neighbors Group, the Carmel Valley Association, and the Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club. (07.10.09)
LW comment letter on the Coastal Water Project DEIR.
LandWatch Monterey County recently submitted a comment letter on the Coastal Water Project’s Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). It is our hope that Monterey County can soon begin to solve our critical water supply problems. (04.24.09)
Monterey County Water Supply Summary
LandWatch and the Monterey Peninsula League of Women Voters’ summary of water supply projects for Monterey County. (10.21.08)
New Subdivisions Could Be Allowed To Make Overdraft Worse
Current County policy prevents new subdivisions in areas of groundwater overdraft. The Board of Supervisors is being asked to change that rule. Read the LandWatch letter for the full story. (posted 06.02.03)
LandWatch Urges Opposition of No Net Increase (9/12/98)
