Incentivizing Groundwater Recharge in the Pajaro Valley Through Recharge Net Metering (ReNeM)

Decades of groundwater overuse in the Pajaro Valley have contributed to an estimated overdraft 12,100 acre-feet per year (AFY) basin. In response, Water Management Agency adopted a pilot recharge program, called Recharge Net Metering (ReNeM). ReNeM encourages development infiltration projects on private or public land by offering rebate pumping fees based net increase infiltration. The uses following equation: Rebate = W50x (Inftot − Infinc), where Infinc is incidental that would occurred without project, Inftot total measured infiltration, and W50 represents proportion (50%) fee assessed landowner location. goal Valley’s program infiltrate 1,000 AFY aquifer creating operating at multiple sites. This effort will help reduce associated undesirable consequences (seawater intrusion, disconnection with surface water, degradation water quality). case study analyzes local conditions institutions make feasible, including previously established fees, metered wells, existence third-party certifiers able verify results project has enabled increased new incentives drawn PV Water, landowners, tenant farmers develop projects. first thus far only application this approach, but methods used may potential applicability elsewhere. hinge whether can prove effectiveness scheme demonstrate measurable benefits Valley.