The State Water Resources Control Board has extended its existing water conservation regulations, which prohibit wasteful practices such as watering lawns right after rain.
Residents of Felton, Ben Lomond and Scotts Valley are invited to attend a public workshop on the formation of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) to help guide the long-term protection of critical aquifers and local water supplies.The workshop on the new agency will held Wednesday, Feb. 22, 7-9 p.m. at the Scotts Valley Water District, 2 Civic Center Dr., Scotts ValleyThe three communities form a roughly triangular area of the Santa Margarita Basin, which is losing water, called “ a state of overdraft,” resulting in lowered groundwater levels and reduced streamflow. Under the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, a new agency must be formed to achieve groundwater sustainability by 2040, a solution that will likely involve a combination of water efficiency, increased groundwater recharge and supplemental supply.The County of Santa Cruz, the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, and the Scotts Valley Water District are working together to address overdraft of the basin and comply with state requirements. The San Lorenzo Valley Water District, Scotts Valley Water District, and commercial and private well owners are all users of the basin.Residents and private well owners are encouraged to stay informed and participate in the process by visiting www.smgwa.org, where they may also sign up for a newsletter.
The record-setting rains that pummeled Ben Lomond and the San Lorenzo Valley this winter have pushed the county’s soggy infrastructure to it limits. And the wet winter is not even half over.
As Santa Cruz County roads suffered another onslaught of mudslides, wind, heavy rain, floods, falling trees and washouts from winter rains, officials were struggling this week to unleash federal and state funds so repairs can begin.
From her sprawling ranch-style home not far from Lockewood Lane in Scotts Valley, novelist Christine Z. Mason beckons readers who enjoy intricate plotting, fascinating characters and an exciting story.
Every two years, after the General Election, the Scotts Valley City Council elects a new mayor. Then the newly appointed mayor selects individual council members to serve on “interjurisdictional” committees, standing local committees, and project-specific subcommittees.