Citizens for Just Water highlights for 2018
Citizens for Just water made numerous visits to our local and state leaders, and, public agencies to tell the story of Marina and the harms and flaws of this project. Communities were encouraged to make public comment to the CPUC before the final approvals were made. We held several informative public forums to discuss the issues of the slant well project including California water law expert, Marc del Piero. Our crew made efforts to make pubic comment at every local peninsula city council regular board meetings to share information on regional water issues. We were present at the 2018 Marina Labor Day Parade and collected signature for petitions to our public leaders who have done little to increase the conversation of the issues. We attended the Regional Water Board on December 7 in San Luis Obispo and wrote more letters. We continued to relay information to the Coastal Commission, the State Water Resources board and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.
California Coastal Commission still needs to hear from You!
Recently, the Coastal Commission held its July 11 through 13th, 2018 meeting in Scotts Valley.
Several car pools of persons from Marina, Seaside, Monterey and Carmel Valley presented on each day of the public comment portion to educate the Commissioners about environmental issues associated with the CalAm Slant Well Desalination Project in Marina, CA.
Talking points included:
Now is the time to speak out against this project! The Coastal Commission will be responsible for issuing permits to build the slant wells on the CEMEX property that will take up our groundwater reserves.
See letter writing campaign for addresses and sample letters.
Several car pools of persons from Marina, Seaside, Monterey and Carmel Valley presented on each day of the public comment portion to educate the Commissioners about environmental issues associated with the CalAm Slant Well Desalination Project in Marina, CA.
Talking points included:
- Protection of the Western Snowy Plover (a threatened species), our ground water, and the sensitive coastal natural habitats.
- Encouraging the CCC to apply good science in their decision making and permitting process along with incorporating new information such as the Stanford AEM study, instead of relying entirely on old studies that are no longer relevant.
Now is the time to speak out against this project! The Coastal Commission will be responsible for issuing permits to build the slant wells on the CEMEX property that will take up our groundwater reserves.
See letter writing campaign for addresses and sample letters.
PUBLIC FORUM VIDEO
Marina vs. Cal Am -
How the Outcome Will Impact YOUR Cal Am Bill
Here's a recap of the Thursday, June 21, 2018 meeting at the MIIS, Irvine Auditorium
Speakers: Bruce Delgado, Marina’s Mayor, Kathy Biala, Director of Just Water, and Tom Moore, President of Marina Coast Water District Board of Directors.
Speakers: Bruce Delgado, Marina’s Mayor, Kathy Biala, Director of Just Water, and Tom Moore, President of Marina Coast Water District Board of Directors.
Citizens for Just Water highlights for 2017
Public Education: 1,600+ signatures
Citizens for Just Water held 4 public forums in Marina with several area experts speaking to educate the public on the current state of our local water resources.
Topics included:
These petitions and letters were forwarded to the following nine public agencies who have decision making or political influences on the Cal-Am Slant Well Project:
Citizens for Just Water held 4 public forums in Marina with several area experts speaking to educate the public on the current state of our local water resources.
Topics included:
- California American Water (Cal-Am)’s progress in establishing a test slant-well for a potential desalination plant at Marina’s coastline, despite not having any water rights there;
- trends in sea water intrusion to Marina Coast Water District’s and other local wells;
- how the water decisions being made now could impact our future water supply and property values.
These petitions and letters were forwarded to the following nine public agencies who have decision making or political influences on the Cal-Am Slant Well Project:
- Marina City Council
- Monterey County Supervisors
- NOAA Sanctuary Advisory Council
- California Coastal Commission
- Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA)
- Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD)
- State Water Resources Control Board
- Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA)
- Marina Coast Water District (MCWD)
Public Education: Films
We held showings of the National Geographic 2017 documentary Water & Power: A California Heist in Marina and East Garrison -- providing context to our local water issues through seeing the historical and very complex water law and water transmission issues in California. Each session entailed a panel of local experts on water.
We held showings of the National Geographic 2017 documentary Water & Power: A California Heist in Marina and East Garrison -- providing context to our local water issues through seeing the historical and very complex water law and water transmission issues in California. Each session entailed a panel of local experts on water.
Party to the Proceedings.
In November, 2016, Citizens for Just Water was granted Party to the Proceeding by the Administrative Law Judge’s ruling for the Application of Cal-Am Water Company Approval of the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project and Authorization to Recover All Present and Future Costs in Rates. Three of our members gave Prepared Testimony before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) at the evidentiary hearings held in San Francisco in Fall of 2017. This testimony presented our concerns from many perspectives, including community values of environmental justice and ethics. As an official party to the proceeding, Just Water representatives are participating in a mediated regional Settlement Negotiations group.
NextDoor
Conversations on the MPWSP, CEMEX, Cal Am slant wells and Community Values have been presented on Next Door to get the message out to inform our neighbors. These issues affect each and everyone and needs to be part of a larger conversation in our community.
In November, 2016, Citizens for Just Water was granted Party to the Proceeding by the Administrative Law Judge’s ruling for the Application of Cal-Am Water Company Approval of the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project and Authorization to Recover All Present and Future Costs in Rates. Three of our members gave Prepared Testimony before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) at the evidentiary hearings held in San Francisco in Fall of 2017. This testimony presented our concerns from many perspectives, including community values of environmental justice and ethics. As an official party to the proceeding, Just Water representatives are participating in a mediated regional Settlement Negotiations group.
NextDoor
Conversations on the MPWSP, CEMEX, Cal Am slant wells and Community Values have been presented on Next Door to get the message out to inform our neighbors. These issues affect each and everyone and needs to be part of a larger conversation in our community.
Community Values of Marina
Our awesome city of Marina, with it's rich history and incredibly diverse population seems to be in a stage of redefining itself. Between such things as protecting our water and land from Cal Am's proposed desal plant, to the work being done in the adhoc committee for our downtown vitalization project, it is crucial that today and tomorrow's city of Marina reflect our diverse richness, unique character, and what we consider valuable. What do you think? How do you envision the future of our city? What are our community values? What reflects the values of our city?
21 Jan · 8 neighborhoods in General
Ground Water Management
Just Water raised public awareness about the 2014 California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and recent formation of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs). Locally, the overlapping application of the Marina Coast Water District GSA and the Salinas Valley Basin GSA was in play during the summer of 2017. Marina Coast Water district has historically been the manager of the aquifer/groundwater in question and having Salinas Valley interests and influences may not be in the best interests of MCWD and the greater Monterey Peninsula water needs going forward. We are the only location with such a GSA conflict/overlap on the Monterey Peninsula.
FORA
Just Water members offered public comment at multiple FORA meetings (Fort Ord Reuse Authority), including presenting a petition signed by residents of East Garrison, asking FORA to formally communicate to the State of California FORA’s endorsement of Marina Coast Water District’s Groundwater Sustainability Agency Application as submitted. Since Fort Ord communities receive their water service from MCWD but are not officially annexed into MCWD, those customers have only FORA as their official representation in water related matters - Ord community customers cannot vote for the Board of Directors of MCWD.
FORA’s subsequent decision to NOT support MCWD’s bid for a status as the exclusive Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) for the Fort Ord Communities was disappointing, but also a point to consider in moving forward in citizen based actions.
Valuable Science
The Stanford University ERT (Electrical Resistivity Tomography-precursor to AEM) and AEM (Airborne Electro-magnetic) imaging groundwater study done by Rosemary Knight and team, has added valuable new data which we would like to see included in the formal scientific analysis/assessment of the test slant well project. Three Just Water representatives traveled to Stanford to discuss the ERT and AEM studies when these subjects became critical to understand for the issues of harm to our groundwater basin. Just Water coordinated and hosted a public viewing of the AEM helicopter lift-off at the Marina Airport in May of 2017 with an educational session immediately following by a Ph.D. hydrogeologist associated with the AEM!
California Coastal Commission Public Comments
Public Comments were made by three of our members at the December California Coastal Commission in Dana Point, requesting a formal agendized public discussion at a future CCC meeting regarding the approval of Cal-Am’s extended permit for the test slant well de-salinization project. Again the CCC did not change its action upon hearing from us, another data point as we realize the David vs. Goliath aspect of the challenges that lay ahead.
Four representatives of Just Water traveled to Cambria for a CA Coastal Commission meeting to present slide presentations on the illegal nature of the CA-Am Slant Well Project and the significant impacts of the test Slant Well upon Marina’s population of the Western Snowy Plover, a threatened species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Just Water raised public awareness about the 2014 California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and recent formation of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs). Locally, the overlapping application of the Marina Coast Water District GSA and the Salinas Valley Basin GSA was in play during the summer of 2017. Marina Coast Water district has historically been the manager of the aquifer/groundwater in question and having Salinas Valley interests and influences may not be in the best interests of MCWD and the greater Monterey Peninsula water needs going forward. We are the only location with such a GSA conflict/overlap on the Monterey Peninsula.
FORA
Just Water members offered public comment at multiple FORA meetings (Fort Ord Reuse Authority), including presenting a petition signed by residents of East Garrison, asking FORA to formally communicate to the State of California FORA’s endorsement of Marina Coast Water District’s Groundwater Sustainability Agency Application as submitted. Since Fort Ord communities receive their water service from MCWD but are not officially annexed into MCWD, those customers have only FORA as their official representation in water related matters - Ord community customers cannot vote for the Board of Directors of MCWD.
FORA’s subsequent decision to NOT support MCWD’s bid for a status as the exclusive Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) for the Fort Ord Communities was disappointing, but also a point to consider in moving forward in citizen based actions.
Valuable Science
The Stanford University ERT (Electrical Resistivity Tomography-precursor to AEM) and AEM (Airborne Electro-magnetic) imaging groundwater study done by Rosemary Knight and team, has added valuable new data which we would like to see included in the formal scientific analysis/assessment of the test slant well project. Three Just Water representatives traveled to Stanford to discuss the ERT and AEM studies when these subjects became critical to understand for the issues of harm to our groundwater basin. Just Water coordinated and hosted a public viewing of the AEM helicopter lift-off at the Marina Airport in May of 2017 with an educational session immediately following by a Ph.D. hydrogeologist associated with the AEM!
California Coastal Commission Public Comments
Public Comments were made by three of our members at the December California Coastal Commission in Dana Point, requesting a formal agendized public discussion at a future CCC meeting regarding the approval of Cal-Am’s extended permit for the test slant well de-salinization project. Again the CCC did not change its action upon hearing from us, another data point as we realize the David vs. Goliath aspect of the challenges that lay ahead.
Four representatives of Just Water traveled to Cambria for a CA Coastal Commission meeting to present slide presentations on the illegal nature of the CA-Am Slant Well Project and the significant impacts of the test Slant Well upon Marina’s population of the Western Snowy Plover, a threatened species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Engaging with Public Officials and Non-Profits
Just Water held multiple direct meetings with various non-profits, state agencies, and local and state politicians regarding Cal-Am’s test Slant well desal plant on Marina’s coast, and protecting our local water resources and water rights.
Labor Day Community Engagement
We sought to educate and include the public in our outreach efforts at the Marina Labor Day Parade/Festival by having people star in short videos about our water situation.
Just Water held multiple direct meetings with various non-profits, state agencies, and local and state politicians regarding Cal-Am’s test Slant well desal plant on Marina’s coast, and protecting our local water resources and water rights.
Labor Day Community Engagement
We sought to educate and include the public in our outreach efforts at the Marina Labor Day Parade/Festival by having people star in short videos about our water situation.
Solving Regional Water Issues
We are part of the recently organized mediation group seeking to air and resolve regional water issues with the parties that have been part of the October 2017 proceeding with the CPUC. Current mediations have resulted in cooperative efforts of the public water agencies to increase ground water replenishment and recycled water project capacities that will provide water affordably, sustainably and sooner than the Cal Am desal project.
We are part of the recently organized mediation group seeking to air and resolve regional water issues with the parties that have been part of the October 2017 proceeding with the CPUC. Current mediations have resulted in cooperative efforts of the public water agencies to increase ground water replenishment and recycled water project capacities that will provide water affordably, sustainably and sooner than the Cal Am desal project.