Fact Sheet
Santee / El Monte Basin: Groundwater Management Planning Study
The San Diego County Water Authority (Water Authority) provides both financial and technical assistance to its member agencies and other water agencies in its service area to conduct groundwater studies.
The Water Authority has more recently taken the lead, at the request of its member agencies, in conducting some of these groundwater studies. This has generally occurred where two or more member agencies have demonstrated interest in the study and development of the same groundwater basin or aquifer system.
In June 1998, the Water Authority entered into a Joint Participation Agreement with Padre Dam MWD, Riverview Water District, Lakeside Water District, Helix Water District, and the City of San Diego to conduct a groundwater-management planning study in theSantee / El Monte Groundwater Basin.
The purpose of the groundwater-management planning study is to develop the information and planning tools necessary to manage the groundwater resources of the Santee /El Monte Basin.
The study consists of three phases. A computer database was developed in Phase 1 (completed in March 1999). The database incorporates information from water-well logs, reports, and publications on file at local water agencies and the offices of local, state, and federal government agencies. In Phase 2, currently ongoing, a permanent groundwater-monitoring program will be established. In Phase 3, a groundwater computer model will be used to evaluate the impact of existing practices and proposed groundwater management alternatives on groundwater levels and groundwater quality in the basin.
Following the completion of the Santee /El Monte Basin Groundwater Management Planning Study, the participating agencies will discuss the possible development and adoption of a formal groundwater management plan.
Schedule: It is anticipated that Phase 2 of the study will be completed by December 31, 1999 and Phase 3 will be completed by June 30, 2000.
If you have any questions about this groundwater study, you may contact Dan Diehr, Senior Water Resources Specialist, San Diego County Water Authority, at (619) 682-4121 or e-mail at ddiehr@sdcwa.org.
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