Summary

From 2007 through early 2009, the Center for Integrated Water Research faciltated the Water for Monterey County Coalition (formerly known as the REPOG or the Monterey Regional Plenary Oversight Group). Though UCSC is no longer involved, the work of the Coalition continues and you can follow the progress of this regional dialogue by visiting www.waterformontereycounty.org.

Quotes about the Regional Water Supply Program, Water for Monterey County

“By providing water to areas both inside and outside the California American Water service area, more beneficiaries and project champions may participate and cost reductions can be realized by sharing infrastructure among the projects. This interagency cooperation and shared responsibility maximizes reliability, flexibility and sustainability while reducing environmental impacts.”
Lyndel Melton, RMC Water and Environment, Monterey Regional Water Supply Program EIR Project Description, June 2008

“The dialogue has identified a viable regional configuration of projects and infrastructure investments that, taken together, will provide an adequate and sustainable supply of water and still restore the various aquifers while also simultaneously supporting a vibrant local economy.  You've been very successful in piquing the interest of many organizations and individuals who realize the unsustainability of the present status quo with its unnecessarily high public costs including the possible extinction of endangered species.  Almost all participants can now see the concrete steps needed to escape local binds more incrementally and without creating politically unacceptable patterns of growth.”
Michael Warburton, Executive Director, Public Trust Alliance, A Project of the Resource Renewal Institute

"We strongly support the Water for Monterey County effort. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary management encourages integrated approaches to water supply that will eliminate new or existing discharges to sanctuary waters. This plan is intriguing to the MBNMS since it would not only eliminate existing discharges to the ocean of sewage that is causing impacts, but it could have the added benefits of eliminating harmful impacts due to desalination brine discharge and entrainment, as well as mitigating the looming sea water intrusion problem that is an imminent threat. The Sanctuary supports this integrated collaborative effort and will continue to participate and provide input and encourage a regional approach.”
Brad Damitz, Environmental Policy Specialist, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary