On April 27, 2023, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) approved the 2022 Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the Salinas Valley Basin – Monterey Subbasin. EKI supported Marina Coast Water District in its preparation of the GSP in collaboration with the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency. The document outlines joint management of the basin by the two agencies over the next 20 years.

EKI’s contributions to this work effort included inter-agency coordination, stakeholder outreach, assessment of hydrogeologic and groundwater conditions including seawater intrusion, development of a numerical groundwater model to facilitate water budget analyses, establishment of sustainable management criteria, and identification of projects and management actions aimed at achieving long-term sustainability. Funding for GSP development was secured through successful application for DWR’s Round 2 and Round 3 Sustainable Groundwater Planning Grant Programs.