EXHIBIT 15-A

Monterey Peninsula Water Management District

Strategic Planning Initiatives Progress Report

September 20, 2004, Update

Initiatives		Progress Report
1.	Evaluate and Certify EIR on Water Augmentation Projects in Compliance with CEQA and NEPA	At a special workshop on March 31, 2004, the Board received presentations about the feasibility and production capacity for MPWMD's proposed local desalination project.  Board members expressed their preference to delay circulating a formal Draft EIR in order to learn more about two proposed desalination projects in the Moss Landing.  A special workshop on desalination options was held on July 29, 2004. The Board heard presentations and posed questions to two entities that are pursuing desalination at Moss landing: (1) Cal-Am/County of Monterey, and (2) Pajaro/Sunny Mesa Community Services District.  The Board also heard presentations by MPWMD staff on District desalination and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) investigations.  The Board directed that a matrix comparing various alternatives be presented at the September 29, 2004 Strategic Planning Workshop. Staff efforts this past month have focused on completing the matrix and meeting with project proponents.
2.	Revise the Water Permit Process	With staff's assistance, PM Connect continued developing the database screens for the mock-up database.  Land Systems Group continued to refine procedures for incorporation in the policies and procedures manual.
3.	Develop Seaside Basin Ground Water Management Plan	At the March 15, 2004 meeting, the Board adopted a resolution declaring its intent to prepare a Groundwater Management Plan for the Seaside Basin, and a statement of public participation in development of the Plan.  On March 25, 2004, staff sent the resolution and related materials to prospective members of the Seaside Basin Advisory Committee. This group includes pumpers, jurisdictions, agencies and utilities that overlie the basin and interested parties. On April 15, 2004, staff published a Notice of Public Participation in the Monterey County Herald inviting public participation in development of the plan. Currently staff is reviewing technical data on updated groundwater conditions in the basin. On July 1, 2004, staff distributed an update on development of the plan to the Advisory Committee. On September 7, 2004, staff notified prospective members of the advisory committee that the first committee meeting would be held on October 7, 2004, to review the components of the plan and discuss basin management objectives.
5.	Increase Innovative and Effective Conservation Practices	The Water Demand Committee received an update on this initiative on 4/8/03. Work on this initiative is on hold pending completion of the Revise the Water Permit Processes strategic initiative.

U:\staff\word\boardpacket\2004\2004boardpacket\20040920\InfoItems\15\item15_exh 15a.doc