November 25, 2019
Category: News
For the past two years, Montgomery & Associates (M&A) has worked closely with the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (MGA) to develop a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP), as required by the state of California. Following a public hearing on November 21, 2019, the MGA unanimously adopted the GSP, which will be submitted to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) by January 31, 2020 for approval.
As the technical consultant working with the MGA and other Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs), M&A’s role in developing a GSP includes assessing geology and hydrogeology; documenting hydrogeologic conceptual models; understanding surface water/groundwater interactions; assessing groundwater quality; developing and using groundwater models to simulate potential future conditions; supporting development of data management systems; and writing the GSP in accordance with all requirements of California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
“The adoption of the GSP is a tremendous milestone,” said Hale Barter, president of M&A. “I would like to congratulate the MGA on their work to complete this comprehensive plan, which guides ongoing management of the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Basin over the next 50 years and provides solutions to achieve sustainability.”
Since the passage of SGMA in 2014, M&A has been actively involved with SGMA serving as advisors to DWR, local water agencies, stakeholders, and non-governmental organizations to develop and direct statewide SGMA policy. M&A is currently assisting with the development of GSPs in 13 other subbasins: the Paso Robles Subbasin, Redding Basin, Santa Margarita Basin, Petaluma Valley Subbasin, Sonoma Valley Subbasin, Santa Rosa Plain Subbasin, six subbasins in the Salinas Valley, and the Yolo Subbasin.
For more information about M&A’s groundwater management services in California, visit our website or contact Derrik Williams, P.G., C.Hg., California business development manager.
