October 12, 2026
Category: News
On October 8, 2026, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) approved the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency’s (MGA) 2025 Periodic Evaluation of its Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP), marking the first approval DWR has issued under its 5-year periodic review process for the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). DWR found that the GSP remains consistent with SGMA, substantially complies with the GSP Regulations, and is being implemented in a manner likely to achieve the Basin’s sustainability goal.
Montgomery & Associates (M&A) prepared the Periodic Evaluation on behalf of MGA, with the effort led by Georgina King, P.G., C.Hg., Principal Hydrogeologist and Pete Dennehy. P.G., C.Hg., Senior Hydrogeologist. The evaluation documented progress on the Soquel Creek Water District’s Pure Water Soquel and City of Santa Cruz Aquifer Storage and Recovery projects, completed a seawater intrusion investigation in the Seascape area, and resolved DWR’s 2021 recommended corrective action on protecting domestic wells. DWR found the response adequate and concluded that no Plan amendment was needed.
The milestone builds on a record of firsts for MGA and M&A. In June 2021, the Santa Cruz Mid-County GSP, which M&A also prepared for MGA, was among the first 2 GSPs DWR approved statewide. M&A congratulates MGA and its partners on this achievement as the Basin continues GSP implementation ahead of the next periodic evaluation in 2030.
For more information on M&A and its services in California, contact Lisa Porta, P.E., Principal Water Resource Engineer and California Water Strategy Lead, or visit our website.
