The IRP preferred alternative has emerged as a result of the most recent information available and is intended as a roadmap to guide future efforts. The IRP preferred alternative is a flexible plan that allows individual components to be implemented, as necessary, based on changing demand and water supply conditions. The most significant piece of the preferred alternative is the recommendation to pursue a regional seawater desalination project with the City of Santa Cruz as the best available alternative to provide a sufficient and reliable supplemental water supply that can be used in conjunction with groundwater resources. This project would be the cornerstone to enable the District to significantly reduce pumping and achieve groundwater management objectives of restoring and protecting the Soquel-Aptos Groundwater Basin.

The Preliminary Draft 2006 Integrated Resources Plan was first presented to the Board of Directors for review and comment on January 17, 2006. That document has been available for public review since Friday, January 13, 2006. Letters were sent to the District’s list of potentially interested parties and the local media giving notice of the document and the scheduled public hearing. The 2006 IRP is available in .PDF format on the left under "Quick Links." Hard copies of the second draft have been placed in public libraries in the District's service area and in the District’s office along with a summary of the changes from the preliminary draft.

Eric Zigas and Kelly White from Environmental Science Associates (ESA) made a presentation on the 2006 IRP to the board on January 31st, 2006. The Board adopted the 2006 IRP after minor changes were made.