The Basins Study is developing leading-edge technical information regarding water supply and will provide comprehensive data to local water managers making decisions on how to adapt to impacts associated with competing demands, climate change, and drought.
Basin Study Geographic Extent
The Basin Study encompasses the Salinas and Carmel River watersheds in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties and is scheduled for completion late spring 2020. There are four major elements of the study framework:
- Projections of water supply and demand will consider all potential water sources, including both groundwater and surface water, including an assessment of risks to the water supply relating to climate change. Projections of water demands may include demands for agricultural, municipal, environmental, and recreational water uses.
- Analysis of how existing water and power infrastructure and operations will perform in the face of changing water realities, such as population growth and climate variability.
- Development of options to improve operations, supply and demand imbalances and infrastructure needed to supply adequate water in the future.
- All proposed alternatives will include analysis associated with their relative cost, environmental impact, risk, stakeholder response, or other attributes common to the identified alternatives.