The Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) has rolled out a new ordinance, No. 5426, which establishes updated groundwater monitoring and well registration requirements specifically relevant to agricultural landowners and operators. Adopted on October 1, 2024, this ordinance streamlines reporting for groundwater extraction and replaces previous regulations, with a new focus on sustainable water management.
What Agricultural Landowners Need to Know:
Groundwater Extraction Reporting through GEMS: Wells extracting more than two acre-feet of water annually must report groundwater usage to MCWRA’s Groundwater Extraction Management System (GEMS). This includes wells previously exempt and all new well owners/operators in the applicable zones. Reporting will help ensure the long-term health of our groundwater resources, with data collection on agricultural, industrial, municipal, and larger domestic wells.
- Well Registration Requirements: All wells within designated zones—including those used for agricultural purposes—must now be registered with the MCWRA. A new online portal has been introduced to simplify the registration process.
- Transition Period for Reporting Compliance: The year 2024 serves as a transition period to align with the new reporting standards.
- 2024 Reporting: Agricultural well owners should submit data for October 2023 to September 2024 by January 10, 2025.
- Starting 2025: Monthly data collection will become standard, with a final annual reporting deadline of November 1 each year.
Why This Matters for Agricultural Landowners
With increased attention on sustainable water management, these updated regulations support the agricultural community by promoting resource longevity. The monitoring program covers the 180/400-Foot, Eastside, Forebay, Langley, Monterey, and Upper Valley subbasins, ensuring that agriculture continues to thrive under sustainable practices.
How to Stay Compliant
Visit MCWRA’s Groundwater Monitoring Program page for guidance on registration and reporting. The MCWRA Hydrology staff is available to help answer questions at [email protected].
Agricultural landowners, stay proactive and participate in this essential process to secure Monterey County’s water future!
The portal is open now until 11/8 for administrative changes — (changes in ownership, etc)–should be made before the 8th.
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