The Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted to send a letter supporting a narrowly scoped request from the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD) to the State Water Resources Control Board to modify a 2009 cease-and-desist order (CDO) condition that restricts issuance of new water meters in the California American Water service area.

Ara (Water Resources staff) summarized MPWMD'''s argument that recent pumping from the Carmel River has been within legal limits and that current supply exceeds demand, allowing additional seasonal storage in the Seaside basin. The district also proposed stronger reporting and trigger mechanisms to re-instate enforcement if legally allowed diversions exceed permitted levels.

"The district points to the fact that pumping from the Carmel River over the past 4 years has been within the legal limit and that currently the supply of water to the peninsula is greater than demand," staff told the board, noting the CPUC has also recognized supply surpluses in an August 2025 decision.

Public speakers were sharply divided. Nina Beatty, who opposed a separate regional drone MOU earlier on the agenda, urged tabling controversial items; Gary Curcio of the Peninsula business coalition asked the board to explicitly reference the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project (desalination) in any letter, arguing that the long-term supply strategy should be acknowledged alongside a temporary allocation change.

Supervisors debated strategy. Supporters said a narrow letter focused on technical flexibility would help shore up the peninsula'''s ability to comply with housing-element zoning and avoid unintended barriers to modest infill housing. Opponents cautioned that the county should not appear to endorse desalination or broader supply shifts without additional public analysis.

Supervisor Daniels urged limiting the letter to the single requested modification and deferring broader supply debates: "This isn't a request for increased use. It's a request for flexibility within a condition to set new meters and to rezone." Other supervisors said the board should avoid muddying the record by adding references to the desalination plant.

The board approved staff'''s recommendation to send a letter supporting the limited CDO modification and asked staff to continue separate allocation discussions and public engagements. The motion carried on a recorded voice vote (3'''2).