Groundwater ordinance ‘vested rights’ comments due Nov. 1
Anyone interested in commenting on the “vested rights” determinations made through the Paso Robles Groundwater Urgency Ordinance have until Nov. 1 to submit ideas to the county.
Passed by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 27, the Urgency Ordinance established a moratorium on new or expanded irrigated crop production, conversion of dry farm or grazing land to irrigated crop production, and new development unless such uses offset their total projected water use by a ratio of 1:1.
The ordinance also requires the installation of meters on new wells and applies to all properties located within the unincorporated areas of San Luis Obispo County that overlie the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin – with the exception of properties that overlie the Atascadero Sub-Basin, properties served by Community Service Area 16, and San Miguel Community Services District.
The ordinance also contains exemptions for specified uses that include “a limited vested right to complete the installation of new irrigated crops where satisfactory evidence can be provided that, prior to the effective date of this Ordinance, an applicant has secured a vested right to complete site preparation, planting, or sale of product”.
To review the Vested Rights Resolution for comment, please click here.
Those who are interested in submitting comments may send them to Kami Griffin, Acting Director of the SLO County Department of Planning and Building at kgriffin@co.slo.ca.us.
– Nanette Fisher, Soaring Eagle Press
