Revision as of 15:35, 6 April 2016

Summary of southern Monterey Bay's municipal water boundaries.

This information is by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

Summary

Image 1. Major water districts with in the Monterey Bay.

Monterey Bay has several water providers including large agencies such as MCWD and California American Water Company (CalAm), small private water districts, and private wells. The boundaries of these entities are the result of historic purchases, legal action, and development.

Southern Monterey Bay Municipal Water Agencies

For each water service boundary an agency provides water to the population in that area. Multiple agencies serve Monterey Bay's water needs including, but not limited to:

• California American Water Company (CalAm)
• The City of Seaside's Seaside Municipal Water System ^[1]
• Marina Coast Water District (MCWD)
• Private water companies/ wells

CalAm Boundaries

In 1966 CalAm purchased the southern Monterey Bay's water infrastructure from the California Water and Telephone Company. This purchase included the San Clemente Dam and Los Padres Dam. Since then, CalAm has been providing water to approximately 85% of the Peninsula's population.

CalAm's service area encompasses portions of Seaside, the City of Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Carmel, Carmel Highlands, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Carmel Valley ^[2].

• 1989 - CalAm acquired the Ryan Ranch water facilities
• 1993 - CalAm acquired and annexed the Hidden Hills Unit, which formerly reported as the Carmel Valley Mutual Water Company ^[3]
• 1999 - The Bishop Unit, which was operated by Cal-Am since September 1996, was acquired and annexed into the Cal-Am water system ^[4]

MCWD Boundaries

The Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) has been the main water purveyor for the City of Marina since it's establishment in 1958. The original boundaries were set to coincide with the existing fire service boundaries of the Marina Fire District.

In 1997, with the closer of the Fort Ord Army Base, MCWD entered into an agreement to manage the form Army's water infrastructure. This was finalized by the Board of Directors in 2001 ^[5]. Half of the the City of Seaside's water infrastructure lies within the boundaries of Fort Ord which was annexed into MCWD's distribution system with Fort Ord lands.

• 2013 - MCWD increased boundaries to include Seaside High School ^[6]

Seaside Municipal Water System Boundaries

Image 2. Boundaries for the Seaside Municipal Water System. Image: City of Seaside

Between CalAm and MCWD boundaries is the Seaside Municipal Water System within the City of Seaside. The Seaside Municipal Water System is small municipal water system composed of one groundwater well and two 500,000 gallon water tanks. The main source of water is groundwater from the Seaside Groundwater Basin.

Small Private Water Companies/Wells

Multiple private wells exist on the Monterey peninsula including the Santa Lucia Preserve. ^[7]

Multiple small, private agencies sere the Peninsula was well. Some of the agencies include:

• The Monterra Ranch and Tehama Subdivisions are serviced by a small company called Cañada Woods Water Company Water Distribution System (CWWCWDS) ^[8]
• Carmel Riviera Mutual Water Company serves approximatley 177 properties in Carmel Highlands. ^[9]
• Canada Woods Water Company ^[10]
• Aguajito Road Water System in Carmel ^[11]
• Cachagua Road Water System ^[11]
• Carmel Valley Water System ^[11]
• Hitchcock Canyon Water System ^[11]
• Highway 1 Water System ^[11]
• Jamesburg Municipal Water System ^[11]
• Los Laureles Water System ^[11]
• River Meadow Road Water System ^[11]
• Schulte Road Water ^[11]
• Victorine Ranch Mutual Water District ^[12]
• Brandon Creek Mutual Water Corp ^[13]

Relationship to Water Sources

Image 3. Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD) boundary. From MPWMD Website.

In Monterey Bay the water service boundaries do not line up with hydrologic boundaries such as groundwater basins or watershed delineations. Boundaries are usually decided with agency interactions.

The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD) is the regulatory agency that comprehensively manages the water distributors in Monterey Peninsula, Seaside, and portions of Carmel Valley. MPWMD advises Cal Am on rate policy, issues water permits for new construction and remodels, monitors water extraction, and attends the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) rate hearings. ^[14]

Links

• Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD)
• Marina Coast Water District (MCWD)
• Special Districts
• California American Water Company (CalAm)
• Seaside Groundwater Basin

References

1. ↑ City of Seaside Website
2. ↑ Monterey District Urban Water Management and Water Shortage Contigency Plan for California American Water (2006 -2010)
3. ↑ MPWMD Board Packet - Item 12
4. ↑ [1]
5. ↑ MCWD Website
6. ↑ MCWD Board Packet 2/20/2013
7. ↑ Santa Lucia Preserve Water Update 2013
8. ↑ 2005 MPWMD Public Hearing on Tehama/Monterra
9. ↑ Water and Waste Digest
10. ↑ [file:///C:/Users/Kaitlyn/Downloads/Water%20Utilities%20Listed%20by%20County.pdf California Department of Public Utilities - Monterey County Water Utilities]
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8} County of Monterey Health Department - Small Water System List
12. ↑ Victorine Ranch Mutual Water District
13. ↑ Water Boards - Monterey County Water System
14. ↑ Monterey Couts - A Glass Half Full Water