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Carmel Valley

Statistics

  • Basin Name
  • Carmel Valley
  • Basin Number
  • 3-007
  • SGMA Basin Priority
  • Medium
  • Critically Overdrafted
  • No
  • Hydrologic Region Name
  • Central Coast
  • Counties
  • Monterey
  • Adjacent Basins
  • No items found

At-A-Glance

Located in California’s Central Coast hydrologic region, the Carmel Valley is 4,322 acres in size. This Medium priority basin is home to an estimated 3,765 people (2010 value). It has approximately 147 wells, of which approximately 22 are water supply wells. Groundwater accounts for approximately 98.34 percent of the basin’s water supply.

Source: CA DWR
Source: CA DWR

Basin Notes

2003: Bulletin 118 basin description

2014: CASGEM Basin Prioritization: high

2018: Basin prioritization comment

  • Groundwater levels: From Seaside Groundwater Basin Phase 1 Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project, Carmel Valley Alluvial Groundwater Basin: “Groundwater pumping from this alluvial aquifer has resulted in depleted storage, reduced streamflow in the Carmel River, and impaired habitat conditions for steelhead trout and red-legged frogs. Typically, during the dry season between June and November, the lower seven miles of the Carmel River are dewatered. In 1998, the State Water Resources Control Board determined that the Carmel River was fully appropriated during the dry season.” Source: Seaside Groundwater Basin Phase 1 Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project, Carmel Valley Alluvial Groundwater Basin, P. 1
  • Salt intrusion: A granite sill protects the Carmel aquifer from significant saltwater intrusion (unlike in the Salinas Valley) but questions remain as to how much water can be extracted from the aquifer before salt water intrusion occurs. These issues require attention to avoid irreversible problems that will limit available fresh water supplies to the Monterey Peninsula. Source: CarmelValley-CalAm Use of Carmel River Groundwater Basin – CCoWS Wiki.pdf 2) Public Entities and Water Purveyors with Water Resources Authority in the Region monitors Carmel Valley for Seawater Intrusion. …Carmel Valley Aquifer: Monitoring activities in this basin have indicated only minor changes in overall water quality in recent years. MPWMD is particularly interested in monitoring for potential sea-water intrusion in the lower portion of the Carmel Valley Aquifer. At this time, there are no indications of long term water quality changes that would be indicative of seawater intrusion. Source: 2014 Integrated Regional Water Management Plan for the Greater Monterey County Region

Monterey Peninsula Water Management District discussion item and exhibit arguing for exemption from SGMA 2018: Integrated Regional Water Management Plan for the Greater Monterey County Region

Monterey Peninsula Water Management District

2018 Final Basin Prioritization: Status reduced from High Priority to Medium.

GSA Information

Models