State adds local water basin to list of ‘critically overdrafted’
– The California Department of Water Resources has released a draft report of 21 “critically overdrafted” basins in the state. For the first time, the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin has been added to the list.
A map of the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin. About 60-percent of the basin is in San Luis Obispo County and 40-percent in Monterey County.
Prior to this, the basin had been classified as high priority. As required by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), the basin may need to be managed two years earlier than originally thought using a new plan approved by DWR.
This declaration by the state could possibly change the local legal landscape as well, according to the Paso Robles Agricultural Alliance for Groundwater Solutions. The alliance said that it may come as, “sobering news to some who have attempted to claim the basin’s decline is limited to certain areas because of the recent drought.” Also, now Paso Robles must comply with SGMA in a much shorter timeframe, if the draft list is adopted.
The California Water Commission will hold a meeting on this and other issues this week in Los Angeles.
Both local agencies will have representation present at a Local Agency Formation Commission hearing on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 5:30 p.m. at the Paso Robles Event Center in Adelaide Hall.
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