PV Water’s First Pajaro River Watershed Resilience Program Workshop a Success by Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency May 6, 2025 Member Submitted News AROMAS – The Pajaro River Watershed Resilience Program (PRWRP) led by PV Water and funded by the California Department of Water Resources to help California’s watersheds better prepare for the impacts of a changing climate, held its first of five public meetings on March 10th, 2025, at the Aromas Community Grange. A group of 75 participants representing key areas for the Pajaro River Watershed attended the meeting. Our region faces challenges as we plan for climate change. Ilse Lopez -Narvaez, Associate Planner at the City of San Juan Bautista, shared the flooding and fire concerns that city residents are facing. “With two functioning wells, flooding that’s still visible in our most vulnerable neighborhoods, and fire services without a long-term plan, the City of San Juan Bautista is on the front lines of climate risk. Our residents, many of whom already pay some of the highest water rates in the state—cannot shoulder these burdens alone. Resilience planning isn’t just important; it’s essential to protect our history and our future.” The three-hour event on March 10th focused on hearing from the attendees, which included representatives from sectors dealing with water, flood, cities, counties, land use, water quality, transportation, groundwater management, environmental, agriculture, business, tribes, underserved communities and state agencies. The discussion explored the attendee’s historical interaction with and management of water resources in the watershed and included perspectives from California Native American Tribes. Over the course of three hours, attendees discussed topics related to groundwater management, flood management, water supply, water quality, recreation, ecosystems, and cultural resources with an intent to better understand climate hazards. One of the goals of the workshop was to begin creating a Climate Adaptation Vision for a climate resilient future. Leslie Rios, who is the Environmental Project Manager for the City of Watsonville shared support for the Program. “I am excited about the potential of the PRWRP to develop cross-sector and regional watershed projects to protect our most vulnerable residents. During the flooding in 2023, seniors in wheelchairs, unhoused individuals, and undocumented families—were left with nowhere to go when the levee broke. Some had to evacuate by kayak. Two years later, many are still fighting for insurance and repairs. In this political climate, fear keeps some from even speaking up, yet they’re the ones who need help the most,” Leslie shared. Alyssa Mann, Climate Resilience Project Director of The Nature Conservancy commented on the realities of today and how our extended community has the ability to face our future, “Coastal storms and rising seas are already impacting and reshaping the land. There is a growing recognition of the benefits of retiring marginal pieces of vulnerable farmland along the coast and restoring tidal habitats that provide protection to highly productive land just inland. This PRWRP process will help us better understand these benefits, and set us up for building partnerships to implement these types of mutually beneficial projects for local communities, economies, and natural systems.” The next workshop is scheduled for June 10th from 9am till noon and will focus on prioritizing the key vulnerabilities of the watershed in a changing climate. The meeting will be remote only. RSVP for the June 10th Workshop here. The third workshop, scheduled for August 20th, will be held in person, focusing on how public agencies should plan to adapt to the previously defined areas of concern that are most vulnerable to climate extremes. To learn more about PRWRP, visit PV Water’s website; www.pvwater.org/prwrp. ABOUT PV WATER The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water) is a state-chartered water management district, and a Groundwater Sustainability Agency, formed to efficiently and economically manage existing and supplemental water supplies in order to prevent further increase in, and to accomplish continuing reduction of, long-term overdraft. PV Water works to provide and ensure sufficient water supplies for present and future anticipated needs within its boundaries, generally the greater coastal Pajaro Valley. For more information, visit www.pvwater.org or www.facebook.com/PajaroValleyWater.
