State and Federal Documents Relating to Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties

Follow

• 

  1901, Soil Survey of the Lower Salinas Valley California, Macy H. Lapham and W. H. Heleman

  1901 report by Macy H. Lapham and W. H. Heilman on the Lower Salinas Valley including location and boundaries, history of settlement and agricultural development, climate, physiography and geology and the classes of soil. The report includes a map depicting underground water.

• 

  1904, Water Resources in Salinas, United States Department of Interior, Homer Hamlin

  The 1904 report pertains largely to that portion of the Salinas Valley lying within the boundaries of Monterey County. It describes the geography, topography, geology, climate factors and hydrology of the region discussing the methods of irrigation and irrigation systems, the extent of underground waters, and the possibility of extending irrigation by utilization of surface streams and impounding of flood waters.

• 

  1910, History and Biographical Records of Monterey and San Benito Counties, Vol. II, J.M. Guinn

  Volume II of History and Biographical Records of Monterey and San Benito Counties contains the biographies of past and present (as of 1910) well-known citizens of Monterey and San Benito Counties. The historical component of this publication resides in Volume I. Written by J. M. Guinn, Secretary and President of the Historical Society of Southern California and Member of the American Historical Association of Washington, D.C.

• 

  1924, Soil Survey of King City Area, California

  1924 report by E. J. Carpenter, A. E. Kocher and F. O. Youngs on the King City area of Monterey, California, including location and boundaries, climate, agriculture and the classes of soil.

• 

  1925, Soil Survey of the Salinas Area, California, E. J. Carpenter and Stanley W. Cosby

  The 1925 reports describes the area surveyed, the climate, agriculture, soils, irrigation and drainage of the Salinas Valley. The report was prepared by E. J. Carpenter, United States Department of Agriculture and Stanley W. Cosby, University of California. The report covers the greater part of the area previously addressed in the Lapham and Heileman 1901 soil survey report.

• 

  1946 Salinas Basin Investigation Summary Report, Bulletin No. 52-B

  This joint 1946 18-month investigation of the Salinas Basin by the State Department of Water Resources and the County of Monterey deals with conditions in the lower Salinas River Basin near Monterey Bay due to saline water intrusion into the groundwater supply that was utilized for irrigation, domestic and industrial purposes. The report discusses the history of the basin, a description of the Salinas Valley, sub-basins, inflow and outflow, crops, wells, percolation, underground hydrology, quality of water, evaluation of water problem, methods of conservation, proposed solution and legal considerations.

• 

  1949 Salinas Basin Investigation, Basic Data Used in Bulletins 52, 52-A and 52-B

  The 1949 Salinas Basin Investigation - Basic Data publication presented the previously unpublished basic data supporting the analyses and conclusions in Bulletins 52, 52-A and 52-B. The documents includes well descriptions in Salinas Valley, water levels at wells, quality of water, water levels at wells, quality of water, well logs, and maps depicting lands irrigated in Salinas Valley in 1945.

• 

  1950 Salinas Basin Investigation - Basic Data (1948-1950)

  This supplemental report contains basic data collected between September 1948 and April 1950 on measurements of water levels at wells and quality of water checks as it related to the saline intrusion into groundwater located in the lower Salinas Basin, previously presented in Bulletins 52, 52-A and 52-B.

• 

  1956 Salinas River Basin Investigation, Bulletin No. 19

  The February 1956 Salinas River Basin Investigation (State Water Resources Board Bulletin No. 19) contains an inventory of underground and surface water resources of the Salinas River Basin, estimates of present and probably ultimate water utilization, estimates of present and probably ultimate supplemental water requirements, and preliminary plans and cost estimates for local water development works and for works for possible importation of water from sources outside of the basin.

• 

  1957 May - Fifth Supplement to Bulletin 52-A, Salinas Basin Investigation, Basic Data 1954-1955

  The May 1957 fifth supplement to the Salinas Basin Investigation, Bulletin 52-A, contains basic hydrologic data for the period of spring 1954 through fall 1955.

• 

  1958 - DWR Bulletin No. 18, San Luis Obispo County Investigation, Volume II, Appendixes

  This 1958 document contains the agreement and supplements between California State Water Resources Board, San Luis Obispo County and the California Department of Public Works; a discussion concerning the geology and groundwater in San Luis Obispo County; as well as records of precipitation, daily runoff and miscellaneous stream flow measurements, depths of groundwater, mineral analyses of surface and groundwater supplies, applications to appropriate water, soil moisture depletion, plans for the protection and development of recreational resources, and alternative plan of development of Nacimiento and San Antonio Rivers.

• 

  1965 - DWR Bulletin No. 130-63, Hydrologic Data, Volume III, Central Coastal Area

  This bulletin is a report on surface water, groundwater and climate in the Central Coast Area of California for the period October 1, 1962 through September 30, 1963. It includes a text that summarizes hydrologic conditions in this region and contains five appendices: Appendix A, Climate; Appendix B, Surface Water Flow; Appendix C, Ground Water Measurement; Appendix D, Surface Water Quality; and Appendix E, Ground Water Quality.

• 

  1970 - Geology of Southern Monterey Bay and Its Relationship to the Groundwater Basin and Salt Water Intrusion

  This report discussed the preliminary results of a U.S. Geological Survey and the State of California joint investigation of Monterey Bay. The objective of the survey was to delineate the groundwater basin offshore, to determine the distribution and locations of fresh water aquifers by locating areas in the Monterey Submarine Canyon and the ocean bottom in Monterey Bay where aquifers might outcrop and thus be areas of entrance for seawater. The report noted that since the early 1940s continuous heavy pumping along the coastal area of the Salinas Valley had depleted the groundwater storage and lowered the piezometric levels to an elevation that encouraged seawater encroachment and had caused degradation of the groundwater quality. Groundwater accounted for more than 95% of the water used in the valley. Increased demand for high quality water for agricultural, domestic and municipality uses had made the search for a solution to the seawater encroachment problem a major critical objective in all county and state water resources agencies connected wit the Salinas Valley groundwater basin.

• 

  1974 - Geology of the Southern Salinas Valley Area, California

  This 1974 report about the geology of the southern Salinas Valley was concerned mainly with relating the occurrence of petroleum and other mineral commodities to the Cenozoic history of the area. The investigation had two phases. First phase involved detailed geologic mapping of quadrangles that cover most of Tertiary beds west of the Salinas River. Second phase included a reconnaissance geologic mapping to extend the results of the first phase to a larger area. The report summarizes results of the geologic investigation of the entire southern Salinas Valley area.

• 

  1975, Bulletin No. 118, California's Ground Water, Department of Water Resources

  The Bulletin summarizes known technical information on ground water basins in California and the extent of their water supplies throughout the State. It also discusses the ways in which ground water basins have been used and missue in the past and suggests better management mechanisms for the future.

• 

  1975 - Sea-Water Intrusion in California, Inventory of Coastal Ground Water Basins

  The primary purpose of this 1975 bulletin was to show, as completely as available information permitted, the status of sea-water intrusion, to the end that local agencies could decide where they had to take steps to reverse the condition. A corollary purpose was to show the need for more information on intrusion in certain areas where the situation was particularly critical. The study was undertaken solely to determine the extent and location of sea-water intrusion into coastal basins and to compile an inventory that would assist local agencies in assessing the water supply conditions in their areas. The effort was planned to encourage the formation of a cooperative statewide program to monitor coastal groundwater basins.

• 

  1978 - Water Resources Investigations - Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Digital Flow Models of the Salinas Valley Ground-Water Basin, Report 78-113

  This 1978 report discussed a group of hydrologic models that were developed for the Salinas Valley that included the small-stream model, river model, two -dimensional ground-water model, and three dimensional ground-water model. The small-stream model simulated ground-water recharge from small streams that were tributary to the Salinas River. The river model simulated ground-water recharge from and surface-water discharge in the Salinas River. The two-dimensional and three-dimensional ground-water models simulated hydraulic head in the ground-water basin. The report noted that in addition to being an important agricultural area, Salinas Valley contained several growing urban areas that obtained water from the ground water near the areas of demand. The geographic areas with locally large urban demand for ground water were generally contiguous to areas with local agricultural ground-water supply problems, and the urban demand tended to exacerbate the agricultural supply problems. A major part of the investigation was oriented toward formulating plans for managing the water resources of the area with respect to water supply, water quality, and waste water.

• 

  1988 - Simulated Effects of Groundwater Management Alternatives for the Salinas Valley, Water Resources Investigations Report 87-4066

  This 1988 investigation was done by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Monterey County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. The purposes of this study were to identify and quantify the various types of flow into and out of the ground-water basin and to describe the physical processes that control them. The hydrologic analysis included development of a two-dimensional digital flow model. One of the goals of the study was to update and improve a previous digital model of the basin. The report noted that because of the proximity of Salinas Valley to the ocean, large rates of ground-water pumping caused the inflow of seawater into the aquifers. Consequently, many wells were contaminated by seawater and could not be used as a source of irrigation water.

• 

  2001 - State Water Resources Control Board Decision 1642 in the Matter of Application 30532

  On April 23, 1996, Monterey County Water Resources Agency filed with the State Water Resources Control Board Application 30532 in order to obtain a water right for the 27,900 af of water stored in Nacimiento Reservoir which is not covered by License 7543. Permit 10137 authorized the diversion of 350,000 af of water from the Nacimiento River to storage in the Nacimiento Reservoir. The subsequent License 7543 issued in 1965 confirmed the diversion. Using more sophisticated measuring technology in the 1990s, it was determined that the actual capacity of the Nacimiento Reservoir was actually 377,900 af. The State Water Resources Control Board approved the application.

• 

  2004 - Upper Salinas River Watershed Action Plan - Final Report to the State Water Resources Control Board

  The Watershed Plan (WAP) is a comprehensive planning document, a management plan, for the use by landowners, agencies, and groups in their individual and collective efforts to improve and restore natural resources within the 2,000 square mile area of the Upper Salinas River Watershed. The planning area comprises approximately one-quarter of the watersheds that affect the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The primary objectives of the WAP are to improve water quality and to ensure adequate water resources to meet the various needs within the watershed, to foster the future well-being of agriculture, to reduce the loss of soil, to enhance habitat conditions and to improve land use policies.

• 

  2015, November - Salinas River Salt Modeling Report , Tetra Tech for California Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and US Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX

  Report prepared by Tetra Tech on behalf of California Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and US Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX with a view of development of salt-related TMDLs and a salt and nutrient management plan for the Salinas Valley aquifers. The report provides data analysis and a literature review, development of a water and salt mass balance tool, and salt sources assessment. Recommendations regarding improved representation of cropland locations, rotations, and irrigation practices are provided.

• 

  2015, Salinas and Carmel River Basins Study

  An April 2015 collaborative study conducted by the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Monterey Peninsula Water Management District and Monterey County Water Resources Agency to evaluate future water supply and demand imbalances in changing climate and to develop potential adaptation strategies to meet future demands in the Salinas and Carmel River Basins. Objectives of the study include: 1) Improved regional collaboration in the development of an integrated modeling tool; 2) Identify risks and potential impacts of climate change on future water resources (supply & demand); and 3) Develop solutions and adaptation strategies to fill the gaps in supply/demand.

• 

  2016, Sep. 22 -- Bulletin 118, Interim Update 2016, California's Groundwater Working Toward Sustainability, DWR

  The purpose of the interim update to Bulletin 118 is to provide up-to-date information on California groundwater basins subject to critical conditions of overdraft, groundwater basin boundaries, and basin prioritization. The information is essential to the successful implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act passed in 2014 (SGMA), including the timely formation of groundwater sustainability agencies and the development of groundwater sustainability plans.