The sea wants to move inland, a fact that’s been known in the region for over 80 years as agricultural production increased. But over time, groundwater was pumped faster than could be replenished, exacerbating the inland march of salty water beneath Castroville toward Salinas. … Thanks to California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, passed just over a decade ago, local water agencies need to decide on a plan to protect future water supply. … Now, 2026 marks a pivotal year. All of the groundwater modeling, the public meetings, the basin boundary decisions and feasibility studies of the last 10 years culminate in this moment, where local agencies must push plans across the line into implementation.

Other groundwater news:

• Public Policy Institute of California: Blog: SGMA-ready crops as a low-water alternative to fallowing
• Public Policy Institute of California: Policy brief: The financial viability and broader benefits of SGMA-ready crops