Martis Valley Aquifer - Study Underway

The Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD), Northstar Community Services District (NSCSD) and Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) are partnering to develop a groundwater management plan and groundwater model for the Martis Valley basin.

“The Martis Valley aquifer is very complex and fully understanding our water supply and potential impacts to water quality is very hard to do without good science” said Michael Holley, General Manager of Truckee Donner PUD, “We are thrilled to be part of this collaborative effort which will enable us to be better stewards of the aquifer for decades to come.”

Development of the plan is expected to begin immediately and take about 24-months to complete. The Martis Valley aquifer includes a 35,000-acre area in both Placer and Nevada counties.  It is the main water supply for numerous public and private entities.  This area has seen significant growth in the last two decades with more planned for the future.  Maintaining an adequate water supply and protecting water quality are critical for the region’s future.

Martis Valley Groundwater Management Plan and Model:

• Goal is to ensure long-term quality and availability of groundwater in the Martis Valley basin.
• Process to include development of the project team and scope of work, public outreach, periodic workshops, groundwater model completion, plan adoption, and management plan.
• Creation of the groundwater management plan is expected to take two years.
• Total cost is ~$750,000, which includes grants of ~$500,000 from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Local agency shares are $150,000 for the Truckee Donner PUD, $60,000 for the Northstar CSD and $40,000 for PCWA.

For additional information, contact:  Project Manager Tony Firenzi at the PCWA, (530) 823-4886; Steven Poncelet at the Truckee Donner PUD, (530) 582-3951; and Mike Staudenmayer at the Northstar CSD, (530) 562-0747.