Tell the State Water Board to Lift the Ban on New Water Meters!
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) will hear MPWMD’s case to modify the Carmel River Cease-and-Desist Order on November 5.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS DUE BY AUGUST 19
MPWMD’s Application states:
- There is no current violation or threat of violation of Orders WR 2016-0016 or WR 2009-0060 in the foreseeable future.
- Diversions from the Carmel River have remained within the authorized limit for the past five years due to new water supplies and conservation efforts.
- The Pure Water Monterey Expansion project provides an additional water supply sufficient for Cal Am to avoid future violations.
What does this mean for the Peninsula?
Thanks to Pure Water Monterey, the Peninsula now has surplus water to support decades of growth, but it can’t be used for new housing and business expansion until the SWRCB modifies the Cease-and Desist-Order (CDO) to lift the moratorium on new water meters.
This ban on new meters has been in place since 2009 and is one of the reasons we have a housing shortage. Lifting it is essential for growth. And it’s personal for hundreds of folks who have not been allowed to build on their empty lots for nearly two decades.
Cal Am is fighting this and does not want the moratorium lifted. Evidently using the thousands of acre-feet of surplus water now available for growth would undermine their case for desal.
ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:
Send emails in support of lifting the moratorium to [email protected] no later than August 19. They should address the two questions in the sample letter below.
Participate in person or on zoom at the SWRCB Hearing on November 5.
Public comment shows the SWRCB our community is paying attention and demands this moratorium be lifted!
Our public agencies have given us a new water supply. We should be allowed to use it for new housing and growth.
Melodie Chrislock
Managing Director, Public Water Now
Use this template or write your own email addressing these questions.
Email subject line should read: Support for Modification of CDO WR 2016-0016
"Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel
State Water Resources Control Board
Division of Water Rights
Attention: Cal-AM Team
P.O. Box 2000 Sacramento, CA 95812-2000
[email protected]
Re: Modification of Cease-and-Desist Order WR 2016-0016
Dear Chair Esquivel and Board Members,
This email constitutes my testimony in the proceeding on the Modification of Cease-and-Desist Order WR 2016-0016.
SWRCB HEARING QUESTIONS:
1.Should Condition 2 of State Water Board Order WR 2009-00602 be modified to lift the moratorium on new service connections?
2.If Condition 2 is modified, is the following trigger appropriate for reimposing restrictions currently in Condition 2 such as the moratorium on new service connections? “Upon Cal-Am reporting diversions exceeding 3,376 acre-feet under the water rights described in Order 95-10 in any water year, the moratorium on new water service connections described in Condition 2 shall immediately be reimposed with no further action required by the Board.”
If this trigger is not appropriate, what would be appropriate conditions to reimpose Condition 2?
Sincerely,
..."