Seawater intrusion requires massive action beyond simple water budget balancing. Unlike other groundwater sustainability issues, seawater intrusion cannot be solved by just stabilizing groundwater levels - it requires actively raising groundwater levels or capturing seawater before it reaches inland areas. The agency's seawater intrusion front spans 11 miles (compared to Orange County's 3-mile success story), creating a much larger challenge that must be addressed by 2040 under SGMA requirements.
New integrated hydrologic models show concerning trends in previously "stable" sub-basins. Updated modeling incorporating recent data reveals that groundwater levels in the Forebay and Upper Valley sub-basins are actually dropping slowly over time, contrary to earlier assessments that suggested stability. This finding will need to be addressed in next year's five-year periodic evaluation and may require management action in areas previously thought to be sustainable.
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