College Lake Project Hearing
In 2017, Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water) filed Application 32881 with the State Water Board, seeking a water right permit to develop the College Lake Integrated Resources Management Project (College Lake Project).
The College Lake Project is located in the Pajaro Valley, along the California Central Coast. Decades of groundwater pumping for agricultural and municipal uses within the Pajaro Valley has led to overdraft of the aquifers within the region. Long-term overdraft has led to seawater intrusion into the groundwater basin, causing significant degradation in water quality and reduced freshwater storage capacity. The project aims to combat seawater intrusion and increase freshwater storage capabilities.
The State Water Board held a hearing on September 22, 2020, to receive evidence relevant to determining whether to approve Application A032881 and whether to release state-filed application (SFA) A018334 from priority in favor of Application A032881.
On December 7, 2021, the State Water Board adopted Decision 1652, conditionally approving Application 32881 and releasing SFA 18334 from priority in favor of Application 32881, subject to terms and conditions specified in the permit.
To request a copy of documents not directly linked on this page, please send an email to WR_Hearing.Unit@waterboards.ca.gov.
- December 7, 2021 – State Water Board adopted Decision 1652 Conditionally Approving Application 32881 and Release of State Filed Application 18334 from Priority in favor of Application 32881
- March 19, 2021 – Cover Letter and Notice of Opportunity to Comment on:
- October 16, 2020 – Hearing Transcript
- September 22, 2020 – Hearing Day Recording
- September 18, 2020 – PV Water Hearing Brief to Preliminary Hearing Team Questions with Supplemental Exhibits
- September 18, 2020 – CDFW Responses to Preliminary Hearing Team Questions
- September 18, 2020 – NMFS Responses to Preliminary Hearing Team Questions
- September 18, 2020 – Policy Statement by Soquel Creek Water District
- September 16, 2020 – Stipulation between PV Water and Busch and Dismissal of Busch’s Party Status
- September 15, 2020 – NMFS Confirmed Hearing Attendance
- September 15, 2020 – CDFW Confirmed Hearing Attendance
- September 15, 2020 – Participation Information for the College Lake Hearing Dry Run
- September 11, 2020 – PV Water Amended NOI
- September 8, 2020 – Notice of Rescheduling of Public Hearing for College Lake
- September 4, 2020 – Procedural Ruling Letter on Updated Order of Proceeding, Hearing Team Questions, and Revised Draft Permit
- Enclosure 1 – Revised Order of Proceeding
- Enclosure 2 – Preliminary Hearing Team Questions for Witnesses
- Enclosure 3 – Revised Draft Permit
- Enclosure 4 – Revised Service List
- August 24, 2020 – Notice of Postponement of Public Hearing for College Lake
- August 24, 2020 – PV Water Letter Regarding Rescheduled Hearing Dates
- August 14, 2020 – Email Informing Postponement of College Lake Hearing
- August 14, 2020 – Policy Statement from Rosemarie Imazio
- August 12, 2020 – Policy Statement from Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture
- August 7, 2020 – Policy Statement from Watsonville Wetlands Watch
- August 6, 2020 – PV Water Submitted Exhibits
- August 6, 2020 – Busch Submitted Exhibits
- August 3, 2020 – Stipulation between PV Water and Busch
- August 3, 2020 – Stipulation between PV Water and Diffenbaugh and Dismissal of Diffenbaugh’s Protest
- July 31, 2020 – Request for CDFW or NMFS Witness to Appear at Hearing
- July 30, 2020 – Pre-Hearing Conference Transcript
- July 24, 2020 – Ruling Letter Following Pre-Hearing Conference
- July 23, 2020 – Policy Statement Pajaro River Watershed IRWM
- July 20, 2020 – Policy Statement from Mid-County GSA
- July 20, 2020 – Policy Statement from City of Watsonville
- July 10, 2020 – Pre-Hearing Conference Recording
- July 6, 2020 – Pre-Hearing Conference Information
- July 2, 2020 – Clarification Regarding Policy Statements
- July 1, 2020 – PV Water submitted NOI
- July 1, 2020 – Busch Submitted NOI and Request for Party Designation
- June 29, 2020 – Diffenbaugh Submitted NOI
- June 10, 2020 – Notice of Public Hearing and Pre-Hearing Conference
- May 28, 2020 – Ruling denying request to postpone hearing without prejudice
- May 22, 2020 – Diffebaugh’s request to postpone hearing
- May 12, 2020 – Courtesy Notice of Public Hearing and Pre-Hearing Conference
- January 5, 2018 – Notice of Application A032881 and request to release SFA A018334 from priority in favor of Application A032881
- January 2, 2018 – Request to release SFA A018334 from priority in favor of Application A032881
- November 14, 2017 – Application A032881
