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Water district moves to protect groundwater
Life in the slow lane
BY LEA BOYD
“We’re in somewhat of the gray area for what this basin can withstand, so we want to know what’s happening at the seawater interface.”
As the 2015 rainy season draws to a close without making a dent on the drought, concerns mount for the future of Carpinteria’s high-quality groundwater. The Carpinteria Valley Water District’s board of directors, on Feb. 25, directed staff to continue work toward a $400,000 monitoring well in the Santa Claus Lane area that would provide early warning of seawater movement into the freshwater aquifers. “It’s not written off yet, but the prognosis is that we’re in for another dry year, and that the drought is here for another year,” – District Engineer said District General ManBob MacDonald ager Charles Hamilton. For the first time in years, the district is relying heavily on local groundwater to keep taps in Carpinteria flowing. Pumping, both by district and private wells, is reducing the level of groundwater, leading to worries not only for the amount available as the drought lingers but also for the increasing risk of saltwater intruding on the underground supply as its pressure decreases. “We’ve gone four years with very little recharge and four years with significant pumping,” District Engineer Bob MacDonald told the board. He later added, “We’re in somewhat of the gray area for what this basin can withstand, so we want to know what’s happening at the seawater interface.” MacDonald recommended constructing a monitoring facility called a sentry well in the Santa Claus Lane area. Most of the valley’s groundwater is believed to be protected from seawater intrusion by a fault that runs roughly along the coastline and serves as a barrier. Less is known about the permeability of the fault once it extends under the ocean. A sentry well in the Santa Claus Lane area would alert the district of saltwater in the freshwater supply before it contaminated district and private wells to the north. Though staff was given the green light to continue work toward the proposed well, which still requires securing a site, CEQA documentation and funding, the board raised some concerns for the expensive project and clarified that the project itself was not being approved, simply the dedication of more staff time toward a possible well.
WATER DISTRICT continued on page 3
DUGRÉ
And they’re off ... to a crawl. Competitors in the Island Brewing Company Slow Bike race, from left, Jan Martinez, Jim Pettit and Sarah Volle, vie to eat one another’s dust. Volle finished second in the field of about 15 participants with a time of 1:11.57. See more Slow Bike Race photos on page 16.
Cherry Bombs Make Carpinteria AYSO girls U10 history
The Carpinteria AYSO girls U10 squad, The Cherry Bombs, was the first ever Carpinteria team in its division to reach the final round of the Section 10 Championships. The team won its pool in Bakersfield on Feb. 21 by playing to a 1-1 draw against Valencia and defeating San Luis Obispo 2-0 and Newbury Park 4-2. In the final round on Feb. 22, the Cherry Bombs lost to Granada Hills 2-0 and 5 Cities 2-1 in overtime to finish in fourth place. Coach Marc Medina commented SUBMITTED PHOTO that the team exceeded his Celebrating their run into the championship round of the sectionals are expectations by winning the the Carpinteria Cherry Bombs, from left, Belen Herrera, Alexiana Jaimes, Area Championship and Mikayla Desjardins, Carly Medina, Ariana Lounsbury, Katie Freeman, Mia earning an extended season Alvarado, Isabel Gragg and Jasmine Powell. by heading into sectionals. of soccer players and families. We could not be more The team’s record was 11-4-4. “The journey these young proud of these girls with their well deserved success,” athletes have been on for the last six months has brought commented Medina and coach Jessie Earley. together not only an incredible team, but a community