Santa Cruz Mid‐County Basin Groundwater Management Biennial Review and Report Water Years 2015‐2016

Long‐term overdraft of the basin has led to ongoing risk of seawater intrusion. As a result of long‐term recovery and an acceleration of recovery over the last two years, average groundwater levels in Water Year 2016 met the established protective elevations at the most monitoring wells since the wells were installed. Average groundwater levels in Water Year 2016 met established protective elevations at 8 of 13 of the wells. Since five wells have average groundwater levels below established protective elevations, full basin recovery has not been achieved and the basin is still considered in long‐term overdraft. (Figure ES‐ 1). Recovery of the basin and overdraft will be eliminated when coastal groundwater levels rise to protective elevations at all coastal wells. The MGA will also need to reevaluate the established protective elevations for the GSP.