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Santa Monica subbasin water‑year 2025 report: groundwater levels stable as projects advance
Summary
Staff reported that groundwater elevations in the Santa Monica subbasin remained generally stable during water year 2025 (Oct 2024–Sep 2025), chloride concentrations stayed below measurable objectives, and key infrastructure projects — including Olympic wellfield recharge and wellfield restoration — advanced in 2025 and 2026.
Staff presented the GSA’s water‑year 2025 annual report at the April 15 meeting and described groundwater conditions, water‑budget context and GSP implementation progress.
The report covers Oct. 1, 2024–Sept. 30, 2025. Groundwater levels measured at representative monitoring points were generally similar to the previous year and remained above measurable objectives and minimum thresholds. Modeled change in groundwater storage showed a minimal decrease that staff described as within model error. Representative chloride concentrations were below the measurable‑objective concentration of 200 mg/L; staff said there were no long‑term trends indicating seawater intrusion.
Staff highlighted implementation milestones: recharge to the Olympic wellfield began in 2025; the Olympic wellfield restoration and the Arcadia treatment‑plant expansion were completed in summer 2025; a second recharge well was completed in 2026; and coordination with USGS on monitoring wells and planning for a salt‑and‑nutrient management plan are ongoing. Staff noted that the basin remains highly dependent on imported water and that staff will contact member agencies and private producers to update projected groundwater use for the GSA’s first periodic evaluation (due to DWR in early 2027).
The board asked staff to continue reporting and to present legal/authority questions alongside the periodic evaluation where relevant. The board will have additional review opportunities before staff finalizes the periodic evaluation for DWR.
