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PRAAGS writes open letter to supervisors 

PRAGGS

Paso Robles Agricultural Alliance for Groundwater Solutions issues open letter to county supervisors supporting AB 2453

Dear Chairman Gibson and Supervisors Arnold, Hill, Mecham and Ray,

PRAAGS continues to support the creation of water district with a hybrid board and we believe AB 2453, although overreaching for our needs, offers the best opportunity to accomplish this. PRAAGS urges the County Board of Supervisors to continue to support moving AB 2453 forward through the Legislature and into law. We look to our two North County Supervisors, Mecham and Arnold to lead this effort.

This Bill as now amended is vastly different than the bill PRAAGS and PRO Water Equity submitted months ago. It provides LAFCo with wide authority to grant powers to the district and PRAAGS will be working diligently during the LAFCo process to ensure that the district will have the appropriate authority to meet the needs of the North County. Local control is essential and only those who live, farm, graze and own land in the North County can determine what is best for our situation. LAFCo is the proper place for these decisions to be made.

Other legislation (Pavley-Dickinson) is also being discussed in Sacramento that will allow the State to regulate groundwater for the first time in history. It is expected to be effective January 1, 2015. It would mandate that local agencies of “at risk” basins (the Paso Robles Basin is identified by the State as such) must achieve sustainability. It also encourages local control to implement its provisions. We continue to believe that the County has the resources to inform the public about the Pavley-Dickinson Bill and AB 2453 so that a broad public consensus can form on what is the best solution.

We in the North County have limited options: form a water district, which we continue to support, or allow the County Board of Supervisors through the County Flood Control District to control our water. Otherwise, the State will have the authority under Pavley-Dickinson to step in and manage it for us if we do nothing.

PRAAGS believes that the Flood Control District is not the proper agency to manage the Paso Robles Basin. All of you have consistently said there should be local control. At the July 8th Supervisor’s Meeting, Supervisor Ray said in effect that water in the Paso Robles Basin can be moved out of it without the consent of the two Supervisors of that Basin. She said; “… that is the end of that story. That is why the Flood Control District is the wrong group. That is the bottom line.” PRAAGS could not agree more.

PRAAGS urges the Board of Supervisors to continue to support AB 2453 and to take an active role in establishing a district. This is the only option that provides local control to those in the North County. We believe the Basin stakeholders should know that some of the powers that may be granted to the district by this legislation may be in excess of our needs and even in conflict with the powers in Pavley-Dickinson. Fortunately, this can be remedied during the LAFCo process. With support, guidance and leadership of all of you, this will insure our Basin is sustainable in the years ahead.

Sincerely,
Jerry Reaugh
Chairman, PRAAGS

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