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Arroyo Seco GSA approves scope to study demand management integration with SMC TAC review
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Summary
The Arroyo Seco Groundwater Sustainability Agency board voted to approve a scope of work to integrate demand management into the SMC TAC annual review, directing staff to pursue technical analysis and advisory‑committee coordination ahead of the next GSP update to DWR.
The Arroyo Seco Groundwater Sustainability Agency board voted to approve a scope of work to integrate demand management into the SMC TAC annual review process, authorizing staff to begin the technical evaluation and advisory‑committee outreach.
General Manager Curtis Weeks presented the draft scope as a process‑focused framework rather than a finalized policy, telling the board that Montgomery and Associates “couldn't find the definitive correlation in the Upper Valley in Forebay” between pumping and groundwater elevations: “there's not a strong correlation between pumping and groundwater relations.” Weeks said the scope is intended to identify where correlations do exist, how the SMC TAC fits into a decision‑making hierarchy, and how a demand management tool could be targeted and turned on or off as needed.
Supporters urged the board to move ahead. Tom Versic, a public commenter, said he backed the approach and noted he had filed a December 31 letter with the Department of Water Resources outlining concerns about the grant deliverable for the framework. An advisory‑committee member from Greenfield likewise backed the scope and urged transparency, citing background material from the Salinas Valley Water Alliance.
Board discussion emphasized two recurring themes: technical uncertainty and equity. Weeks and board members discussed whether return flows and reservoir releases could explain the weak correlation found by the consultant; Weeks agreed return flows could affect local measurements and underscored that rainfall and reservoir operations are major drivers. Several board members raised equity concerns about asking some subareas to shoulder monitoring or mitigation costs that would primarily benefit other areas.
The motion to approve the scope was made and seconded; vocal ayes were recorded and the chair declared the motion carried. The board did not record a roll‑call vote attributing each member’s vote by name in the transcript.
Next steps: staff will proceed with the technical evaluation spelled out in the scope, coordinate with the advisory committee and the SMC TAC, and aim to incorporate the work into the planned 4‑bay GSP update for submittal to DWR. The board did not adopt a demand‑management policy at this meeting; it approved the scope for continued study and development.
