Groundwater Sustainability: An Approved Plan for Montecito

Groundwater is an important water source for many local property owners and all Montecito Water District customers. Wells are relied upon for local residential, commercial, and agricultural use, particularly during periods of drought. It’s the job of the Montecito Groundwater Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (Montecito GSA) to ensure that groundwater remains a viable water source for all. 

Potential threats to groundwater basins include chronic lowering of groundwater levels, degradation of water quality, and – perhaps the greatest vulnerability in this coastal location – seawater intrusion. These and other risks are identified as “undesirable results” in the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) legislation which took effect in 2014. To comply with SGMA, Montecito GSA formed in 2018 and began development of a long-term plan to sustainably manage the community’s groundwater. 

Little information about the Montecito Groundwater Basin (Basin) was available at that time. Concerns over drought were at an all-time high and estimates regarding the numbers of possible wells in the area were, quite literally, all over the map. Thus began an intensive five-year effort involving data collection, analysis, research, and modeling, supported by more than two million dollars in grant funding successfully secured by the Montecito GSA. Projects implemented with this funding include voluntary well metering, monitoring coastal wells for seawater intrusion, streamflow monitoring, and development of an adaptive Basin model, all of which continue to supply relevant new data.

All of this work contributed to completing the State’s required Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP or Plan) which substantially increased understanding of the Basin and yielded a determination that the Basin is in good health and not currently experiencing undesirable results. The Plan was adopted by the Montecito GSA in May 2023, submitted to the State for review and received their approval on February 27, 2025.

“This is a Plan that our agency and the entire community can be proud of,” said Brian Goebel, current Director and past Board President of the Montecito GSA. “The approval validates the hard work of all involved and the Agency’s data-driven, collaborative methods as an effective approach for maintaining a healthy groundwater Basin far into the future.’’ 

The Plan serves as a long-term path forward for sustaining the groundwater Basin’s productivity, with a focus on vital data and increasing public education and participation. In addition to projects and criteria for ongoing basin monitoring and modeling, the Plan calls for a well registry program and rebates for projects that contribute to groundwater infiltration. 

The well registry is designed to collect missing data such as contact information, well activity status, and well descriptions. It is required for wells overlying the Montecito Groundwater Basin and will provide a better means of contacting and communicating with well owners if issues or opportunities relating to groundwater arise. Current opportunities include participation in voluntary well metering and monitoring programs to help fill data gaps. 

“Through the well registry we’ve connected with many private well owners who understand the value and importance of Montecito GSA’s Plan,” said Nick Turner, General Manager of the Montecito GSA and the Montecito Water District. “The first forms went out last fall, and since then ten new wells have been added to our voluntary monitoring network. We continue to look for more participation along the coast.”

Successful public/private collaboration can save money. For example, when an owner provides access to an existing well for monitoring, the costs of installing new wells specifically for this purpose are avoided. Well registry forms were sent to 700 properties where there is some indication of the existence of a well, such as permits on file with the Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services Department. 

Rebates for projects that support groundwater infiltration offer an opportunity for community involvement for owners of properties with or without wells. Montecito Union School was the first to receive a rebate when the program went live in February 2024 and recently received a Certificate of Recognition for their Nature Lab Rain Garden, acknowledging the benefits of this public facing project.

To learn more about the Montecito GSA and current projects including rebates and the well registry visit www.montecitogsa.com; email info@montecitogsa.com; or call (805) 324-4207.

While still relatively new, Montecito GSA continues to move forward with an approved Plan and effective actions that promote understanding and demonstrate that managing the groundwater Basin is an essential community partnership for an invaluable shared resource.