The first phase of the Brackish Groundwater Restoration Project feasibility study is complete and the report is available here for review.
Groundwater provides 95% of demand in the Salinas Valley and sustains a multi-billion dollar
agricultural economy. However:
- Seawater intrusion has occurred in some areas for decades. Water levels in several
subbasins are significantly below sea level, driving further seawater intrusion inland. - Pumping exceeds recharge in many areas, leading to declining groundwater levels and
loss of storage, with overdraft conditions and wells vulnerable to rising salinity. - Deep Aquifers, increasingly tapped as seawater intrusion spreads, recharge slowly
(beyond the human timescale for management), and face risks that need to be
managed. Reliance on the Deep Aquifers is not a sustainable long-term replacement
supply. - Climate change, drought variability, and reduced wastewater recycling sources (due to
urban conservation) further limit water supply reliability.
This report explains how SVBGSA has worked with consultants to prepare an evaluation of a proposed extraction barrier and its effectiveness when coupled with brackish water treatment.
This presentation from October 9, 2025 provides more detail on the Phase I work.
This project is now referred to as the Brackish Groundwater Restoration Project (BGRP) and is funded by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Round 1 and Round 2 Sustainable Groundwater Management Implementation Grants.
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