Salt & Nutrient Management Plan
The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water) developed a Salt and Nutrient Management Plan (SNMP), as required by the State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Water Board) Recycled Water Policy. The SNMP will contribute to the implementation of two key water management strategies in the Pajaro River Watershed Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan Update scope of work, including groundwater management and water recycling.
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) adopted a Recycled Water Policy in May 2009 that requires development of plans to manage salts, nutrients, and other significant chemical compounds in every groundwater basin or subbasin in the state. The SNMPs are intended to help streamline permitting of new recycled water projects while ensuring attainment of water quality objectives and protection of beneficial uses. As part of the IRWM Update, SNMPs will be completed for the entire Pajaro Watershed which includes lands in three different counties, requiring three separate management plans. The Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) will lead the Llagas Subbasin; the Bolsa, Hollister, San Juan Bautista Area, and Tres Pinos subbasins are managed by the San Benito County Water District (SBCWD); and the Pajaro Valley Groundwater Basin is managed by PV Water.
Development of the SNMP was through a stakeholder driven process. Key tasks are listed below:
Task 1: Identify SNMP stakeholders & convene a committee
Task 2: Develop conceptual model
Task 3: Estimate salt and nutrient loading, fate and transport
Task 4: Estimate assimilative capacity
Task 5: Develop salt and nutrient goals and objectives
Task 6: Develop implementation plan
Task 7: Prepare salt and nutrient monitoring plan
Task 8: Conduct anti-degradation analysis
Task 9: Complete salt and nutrient management plan
The Salt and Nutrient Management Plan Public Review Draft was released on May 18, 2016. A screen friendly version is avaiable here, and a higher resolution, print friendly version is available here. Public Comments were accepted through June 24, 2016.
Update, June 10, 2016
*The public comment period has been extended to Friday, June 24, 2016, at the request of stakeholders who attended June 10, 2016 workshop.*