Somavia Road Managed Aquifer Recharge Project

Summary

The Somavia Road Managed Aquifer Recharge Project aims to restore groundwater levels in the Eastside and 180/400 subbasins of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin. The project proposes to seasonally pond water in the Salinas River to a depth of 10 feet using a temporary rubber dam, allowing for natural infiltration into the aquifer system. The project is designed to be scalable, low-maintenance, and quick to evaluate and adapt, with potential benefits including reduced pumping lift costs, minimized risk of seasonal outages, and increased water quality. The project is strategically timed, socially resonant, and politically pragmatic, and is expected to support groundwater recovery, preserve ecological flows, and honor downstream priorities.

Details

Subject

Somavia Road Managed Aquifer Recharge Project

Summary

The Somavia Road Managed Aquifer Recharge Project aims to restore groundwater levels in the Eastside and 180/400 subbasins of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin. The project proposes to seasonally pond water in the Salinas River to a depth of 10 feet using a temporary rubber dam, allowing for natural infiltration into the aquifer system. The project is designed to be scalable, low-maintenance, and quick to evaluate and adapt, with potential benefits including reduced pumping lift costs, minimized risk of seasonal outages, and increased water quality. The project is strategically timed, socially resonant, and politically pragmatic, and is expected to support groundwater recovery, preserve ecological flows, and honor downstream priorities.

Report Date

2025-09-11

Report Type

study

Report Title

Somavia Road Managed Aquifer Recharge Project: Restoring Groundwater with Common Sense in the Eastside and 180/400 Subbasins

Authoring Body

Monterey County Water Resources Agency

Reporting Period

2025