Coalition seeks delay in Carmel River pumping cutbacks

A coalition of water agencies and businesses is asking for more time to develop alternative water supplies for the Monterey Peninsula before starting cutbacks on pumping from the Carmel River.

The coalition includes California American Water, the Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority, Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, Pebble Beach Company and the City of Pacific Grove.

In a new modification request, the coalition seeks to postpone the most significant river cutback by five years while reducing pumping in the meantime by nearly 4,800 acre feet. Cal Am said that’s about 80% of the state’s total cutback goal.

The new request will be voted on by the Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority on Tuesday, April 26.

According to Cal Am, the new request follows a one-year delay in the California Public Utility Commission’s environmental review of Cal Am’s proposed Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project.

If the new modification request gets the green light, Cal Am said the requestwill be filed with the state before May 1.

The coalition is also asking that the State Water Resources Control Board respond to the request by June. The State Water Resources Control Board is the agency that ordered the pumping cutbacks back in 2009. While the Carmel River has long-served as the main water supply for the Monterey Peninsula, it is also a critical habitat for protected species.

The pumping cutbacks were supposed to begin on December 31 of this year. Last November, the coalition asked for a four year extension on the most significant cutback, but said they never heard back. Now, they’re asking for an additional year for a total of five years.

The vote on the new request will take place at a public meeting at Seaside Council Chambers Tuesday at 7 p.m.