Letter: San Lorenzo Valley Water District
Re: San Lorenzo Valley Water Feb 1 Article
Thank you for your careful elucidation of so many issues related to the potential for an SLV-SV Water merger. There is one issue that needs a caveat. In this statement, “Currently, the bulk of the Santa Margarita groundwater basin overdraft is borne by Scotts Valley. The San Lorenzo Valley has abundant surface water sources. Because of that, discussions by the SLVWD board in the past have centered around a pricing structure for the sale of water to Scotts Valley – a solution which solves a growing Scotts Valley’s water deficits yet keeps control of San Lorenzo Valley water in the SLV,” it is accurate in explaining Scotts Valley’s greater responsibility for the overdraft of the Santa Margarita Aquifer, and why it could benefit from a merger. However, while there are a number of surface water sources, the amount of water is no longer “abundant” except during heavy rain years. With climate change, the drought years suck the surface waters dry, while the wet years are more extreme, bringing atmospheric rivers causing floods and severe erosion events.
One major concern in a merger is the very loss of control that you mention because, depending upon the point of view of those elected to the Board, surface water could be diverted to Scotts Valley’s growing population to the point that creeks and the River could not provide adequate stream flow for endangered salmonids and other riparian wildlife. It behooves the citizens of the SLV to continue their support for restoration of the aquifer (that actually does help maintain surface water levels in some areas) while supporting the goal of restoring fish habitat year round. Of course with so much wildfire damage to the SLV watershed lands, especially above the town of Boulder Creek and in Fall Creek, those surface waters are severely impacted and it will be years before full recovery. A major factor not being addressed is that it is irresponsible for the SLV to be considering a merger with SV when the dire needs of those in the Big Basin Water District are unmet — and a merger there would make a lot more sense, just as it did with Lompico.
Nancy Macy, Boulder Creek
