The Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency (MGA) is accepting applications to fill two vacancies for Private Well Owner Directors on the Board of Directors. The MGA is a public agency formed in 2016 to comply with California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The MGA is responsible for groundwater management in the Mid-County Groundwater Basin in the communities of Soquel, Aptos, Capitola, Live Oak, and La Selva Beach.
On behalf of the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) Sustainable Groundwater Management Office, we invite you to join us in celebrating National Groundwater Awareness Week. This year, DWR is celebrating by releasing a new toolkit with resources related to a different groundwater management theme each day.
Water Resources Program Manager for Santa Cruz County Environmental Health, Sierra Ryan, recently penned an article with colleagues working in Water Resources across the state on what SB552 entails and how it impacts small and rural communities. They discuss small water suppliers, points of coordination between Counties and GSAs, and challenges to come. Read more here (PDF).
Santa Cruz County Free Residential Well Water Quality Testing Program!
The County of Santa Cruz has launched a free water quality testing program in Santa Cruz County for residents who rely on a household water well. Testing services are available in both English and Spanish. To schedule a free testing, call (844) 613-5152 or visit www.centralcoastwelltesting.org. To learn more about this program and other services offered by the County of Santa Cruz, check out the Household Well Assistance website.
The free residential well testing initiative aims to provide vital information on potential health risks associated with harmful substances in drinking water. Participating residents will receive comprehensive testing results and guidance to protect their wells from contamination. High levels of contaminants in drinking water can have serious health effects, particularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and young children. All residents are encouraged to take advantage of this complimentary, non-regulatory testing service. Some households with high levels of contaminants may qualify for free assistance in the form of bottled water and treatment systems.
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) recently completed its review of the MGA’s 2023 Annual Report on the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) implementation and determined that the report successfully met all the state requirements. To comply with the State’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), the MGA is required to complete both annual reporting as well as to conduct a comprehensive periodic evaluation of the GSP at least every 5 years. The MGA’s periodic evaluation of the GSP is due in 2025 and is currently underway.
State of the San Lorenzo River Symposium – April 13, 2024!
The 9th Annual State of the San Lorenzo River Symposium will be held Saturday, April 13, 2024, beginning at the Felton Community Hall from 8:30 to 12:45, and followed by a Fall Creek Fisheries Tour from 1:30 to 2:00 pm. State Assemblymember Gail Pellerin will join local experts for a discussion of the intersection of Federal, State, and local environmental protection policies and their impact on local rivers, fisheries, and water resources.
Water Year 2023 Dry Season Stream Monitoring Report
Dry season (May through October) stream monitoring for 2023 has been completed. This monitoring provides information on how much groundwater in the Basin contributes to local streams. Assessing this relationship is an important component of complying with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The report is available here: WY23 Dry Season Monitoring Report.
On January 12, 2024, construction of the Olive Springs Monitoring Well was completed as planned. The depth of the well is 110′ feet below land surface, and groundwater was encountered at 59 feet below land surface. This new well fills a data gap identified in the Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan and will enhance the understanding of the interconnection between groundwater and surface water in the Basin.
