Farm Bureau endorses water district formation
Board cites the importance of local control
The San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau Board of Directors has voted to endorse the formation of a water district over the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin.
The majority vote came at its monthly meeting, which was held on March 31, following more than a year of discussions, presentations by interested parties, organizations, water and water law experts, government representatives and members in addition to substantial independent research. Recently, the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau organized a town hall meeting for members to provide information and receive feedback.
Board members voting to support the formation of the a district cited the importance of local control by the people who are most affected by the Paso Robles Basin groundwater issue, rather than by those who live or represent entities outside the basin boundaries; they support the opportunity to have more direct input in critical decision making, and support the idea that groundwater management will be more effective and equitable when the district directors answer only to the landowners in the basin.
In addition to the endorsement of the formation of the water district over the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, the board endorses that all powers set forth in AB-2453, and all powers created by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, be granted to a newly formed district and not be reserved by the County of San Luis Obispo.
The farm bureau, and its board, shall participate in the Local Agency Formation Commission process to support agriculture’s interests in the Paso Robles Basin. The vote applies solely to the Paso Robles basin.
