8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 20-26, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Fourteen years move fast when it comes to reaching sustainability in Monterey County’s critically overdrafted aquifers; the 2040 deadline has pushed three project portfolios into the spotlight. Despite concerns about the feasibility, scale and structure of the proposals, the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s board of directors voted 9-2 on Aug. 13 to move forward with one. The selected suite of projects, known as Portfolio 3A, includes the creation of a small Brackish Groundwater Restoration Project (BGRP) with partial delivery to Salinas and partial injection; Salinas River recharge in Castroville and the Eastside subbasins; optimization of the Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project; and 10-percent demand management, or cutbacks in pumping. The portfolio has an estimated capital cost of more than $1 billion, with annual operating expenses of $74 million. “It’s important for us to be completely honest about budget and about some of the concerns moving forward and our ability to pivot if you have to,” Ryan Kelly of Boutonnet Farms, who represents agricultural interests on the board, said at the meeting. While California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act mandates different deadlines for sustainability in individual subbasins, SVBGSA staff view groundwater management as an integrated approach that will involve a strategy spanning all subbasins. The decision moves Portfolio 3A forward as a “preferred implementation pathway,” meaning the projects will remain flexible as staff works to revise a draft response letter to the State Department of Water Resources. The revised letter will be reviewed at a board meeting sometime mid-September before being submitted to DWR. Although Portfolio 3A does not meet the minimum threshold on slowing seawater intrusion, it comes close, according to officials, and is $240 million less expensive than the project that does meet the threshold. The SVBGSA Advisory Committee has emphasized that the portfolio with a large BGRP, seen as the most effective option, is too expensive and too uncertain. While committee members have been unable to agree on a single portfolio of projects, they agree that other projects need further evaluation. “We will continue refining the projects,” SVBGSA General Manager Piret Harmon said. “We need to make progress. We will have trade-offs between what makes more sense, but we also need to keep moving forward.” An employee of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Accounting Division has filed a civil complaint against Rodrigo De La Rosa, an accounting clerk in the Sheriff’s Office and the husband of County Administrative Officer Sonia De La Rosa. According to the lawsuit, filed on Aug. 3 in Monterey County Superior Court, the plaintiff, named as Jane Doe, “was subjected to repeated sexually suggestive comments, intimidation, stalking-type conduct, whispering in close physical proximity, unwanted flirtation, sexually charged remarks, repeated insinuations regarding intimacy and affairs, invasive and threatening behavior.” The complaint details how Doe, who served as a lead on the agency’s accounts payable team, had supervisory responsibility over other employees, including Rodrigo De La Rosa, a senior account clerk in the finance division. “Upon his arrival,” the complaint alleges, “Mr. De La Rosa immediately made clear to plaintiff that he considered himself protected by virtue of his spousal relationship with the County’s Chief Administrative Officer.” Following their introduction in May 2024, “Mr. De La Rosa’s conduct became increasingly personal, sexually suggestive, intimidating and threatening,” according to the complaint, which also alleges that other coworkers expressed concerns to Doe about Rodrigo De La Rosa’s behavior, and described him as “creepy.” According to the lawsuit, in 2024 Doe spoke with several officers about the behavior, including Undersheriff Keith Boyd, who assured Doe that they were “taking this seriously” and that she needed to be patient. The lawsuit claims that, despite the assurances, nothing was done to stop the behavior, and that Doe requested a transfer or reassignment so she would not have to work with De La Rosa. However, that never occurred, and she remains on unpaid leave, according to the complaint. County Counsel declined to comment on the pending litigation. Water Way Salinas Valley groundwater agency advances a plan to stop seawater intrusion. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS GARRISON REVIVAL The County of Monterey is developing a plan to renovate and reuse former Fort Ord buildings. Share your thoughts on the East Garrison Historic Arts District. 6-8pm Thursday, Aug. 20. Regional Fire Station 7 community room, 13630 Sherman Blvd., East Garrison. 6-7:30pm Tuesday, Aug. 25. Virtual at bit.ly/EGArtsDistrictMtg. Free. bit.ly/ EGArtsDistrict. IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS Salinas residents and groups interested in applying for a neighborhood beautification grant are invited to attend an information session, which will go over the guidelines and what projects are eligible. Noon-1pm Tuesday, Aug. 25. Virtual via Zoom. Free. bit.ly/NBG26-27. FOR RENT Learn about local and state rental housing laws at a workshop presented by the City of Salinas Rental Registration and Rent Stabilization Division and ECHO Housing. 6-7:30pm Tuesday, Aug. 25. City Hall rotunda, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. (831) 758-7901, rentalregistration@salinas.gov. HIRING NOW Monterey County Works hosts a job fair to connect local employers in various industries with job seekers. Attendees are encouraged to bring their résumés and dress to impress. 1-4pm Wednesday, Aug. 26. Monterey Adult School, Multi-purpose Room #13, 1295 La Salle Ave., Seaside. Free. (831) 796-3335. Register at montereycountyworks.com. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS The City of Soledad and Regional Network Hub host a know-your-rights presentation and legal clinic. Meet with legal professionals and receive resources on immigration and more. 5:30-7:30pm Wednesday, Aug. 26. Soledad Community Center, 560 Walker Drive, Soledad. Free. (831) 7072308. WHY VOTE? League of Women Voters of Monterey County presents a talk on the importance of voting. The speakers are LULAC Salinas Council President Chris Barrera and politics professor Steve Hughes. 6-8pm Wednesday, Aug. 26. Sacred Heart Church Parish Hall, 22 Stone St., Salinas. Free. (831) 648-8683, LWVmryco@gmail.com. CLEANUP CONTINUES The U.S. Army is reviewing cleanup activities on the former Fort Ord and will compile the results in a report. The public is invited to share thoughts through a survey. Survey ongoing through Sept. 30. Free. (831) 393-1284, fortordcleanup.com. Power Points After reporting alleged harassment, an unnamed County of Monterey staffer sues her employer. By Aric Sleeper Two of 11 SVBGSA board members voted against the project: Soledad Mayor Anna Velazquez and Tom Adcock of Alisal Water Corporation (neither is pictured). E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN The portfolio has an estimated capital cost of more than $1 billion. KATIE RODRIGUEZ
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==