DATE: JUNE 30, 2026
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS
FROM: DAVID JACOBS, PE, LS, DIRECTOR
THOUGH: Rene Mendez, City Manager
TITLE: ADOPT THE SALINAS ONE WATER ROADMAP
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to adopt the Salinas One Water Roadmap.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The objective of a One Water Plan is to improve water reliability for current and future growth needs of the City and to identify ways to manage the water resources that are available. The One Water Roadmap is the first phase of the plan.
The Roadmap includes recommendations for the first year, which staff will begin working on once the Roadmap is adopted.
BACKGROUND:
On January 10, 2025, the City entered into an agreement with Carollo Engineers, Inc to develop a One Water Roadmap for the City of Salinas. The roadmap is the first step in developing a One Water Plan.
The objective of a One Water Plan is to improve water reliability and to identify ways to manage water resources that are available. The One Water Roadmap is the first phase of the plan and includes a gaps and needs inventory, data gathering and review, identifying stakeholders, conducting interviews, and developing an initial list of potential projects.
The stakeholders identified as part of the roadmap included:
City of Salinas
Alco Water Service
California Water Service (Cal Water)
Monterey One Water (M1W)
Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA)
Salinas Valley Basin GSA (SVBGSA)
Monterey County Farm Bureau
The water management issues discussed included:
Regional Storage and Conveyance
Water Quality
Seawater Intrusion
Lack of Infrastructure Investment
Financial Concerns and Costs
Siloed Perspectives
During two stakeholder workshops, near-term recommendations were identified. The recommendations for the first year include:
The City should prioritize establishing the City’s vision for water management to cement themselves as a key stakeholder on water management for the City, in the Salinas Valley, and greater Monterey County.
The City should hire a designated water professional to represent the City on all water related matters and issues, enable them to develop and implement future One Water projects/pursuits, and to work on water-related efforts both locally and regionally.
The City and other stakeholders should establish a One Water Leaders Group and set expectations for recurring meetings.
With the adoption of the One Water Roadmap, City staff will begin working on the recommendations found within the Roadmap. The adoption does not require any budget amendments, but as the process moves forward any budget amendments will be bought back before the Council for action.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378). In addition, CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 includes the general rule that CEQA applies only to activities which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Because the proposed action and this matter have no potential to cause any effect on the environment, or because it falls within a category of activities excluded as projects pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378, this matter is not a project. Because the matter does not cause a direct or foreseeable indirect physical change on or in the environment, this matter is not a project. Any subsequent discretionary projects resulting from this action will be assessed for CEQA applicability.
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES:
No.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
This item relates to the City Council’s Strategic Plan of Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
The Public Works Department and the City Manager’s office worked together to complete the roadmap.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact with this action.
Fund
General Ledger Number
(Operating/CIP)
General Ledger Account Name
Remaining Budget Appropriation
Amount Requested
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Salinas One Water Roadmap
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