Panorama prepared the Montara Water and Sanitary District Public Works Plan EIR, which addressed multi-faceted improvements to the Montara Water and Sanitary District’s water system. The project included installation of a new 1,000,000-gallon water storage tank, pumping of groundwater from an existing production well, and converting existing wells to monitoring wells. The project also included installation of an underground water conveyance pipeline and electrical conduit from the production and monitoring wells to an existing water storage tank, and upgrade of a water treatment facility.

Panorama oversaw hydrological and biological studies for the project. Hydrologic analysis included evaluation of the groundwater aquifer and potential for shallow groundwater drawdown in nearby areas. Sensitive resources that could be impacted by shallow groundwater drawdown included a wetland, riparian vegetation, and Montara Creek, which supports special-status species. Panorama successfully developed an adaptive management program for monitoring groundwater pumping effects on local springs, creeks, and wetlands.