Local water groups pull support of AB 2453

Posted: 4:10 am, July 9, 2014 by Publisher Scott Brennan

Two local groups that joined forces to support a proposed Paso Robles Basin Water District have pulled their support of a bill at the state capitol that would allow the district to form.

The Paso Robles Agricultural Alliance for Groundwater Solutions, known as PRAAGS, and the Paso Robles groundwater basin Overliers for Water Equity, known as PRO Water Equity, announced this week that State Senate amendments to AB 2453 had made it too complicated and unworkable.

The two groups submitted their objections to the bill’s author, Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian, and to Bruce Gibson, chair of the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors.” The fate of the bill is uncertain.

“The amended bill is very different from the original bill, which was based on a compromise between PRO Water Equity and the Paso Robles Agricultural Alliance for Groundwater Solutions,” says Sue Luft of PRO Water Equity in a press release. “While some of the amendments are very good, some are not appropriate for our situation, and others were not well thought through.”

“On June 17, 2014, the Board of Supervisors conditioned support of several proposed amendments with the addition of their own amendments. In taking that step, the board effectively took management of the language of AB 2453, and therefore, the bill. As a result of that decision, we now look to the County Board of Supervisors to follow through in creating a management structure for the basin,” Luft says. “PRO Water Equity is no longer able to support or sponsor AB 2453. We do, however, support the efforts in Sacramento to develop comprehensive groundwater management.”

“PRO Water Equity still firmly believes that the basin needs to be balanced, and that a locally-controlled water district with the proposed hybrid governance structure is the best solution for our community. Going forward, we will look to our board of supervisors to keep the needs of the rural residents and small landowners in mind while figuring out how to share the water that belongs to all of us.”

Jerry Reaugh, chairman of PRAAGS, issued a similar statement: “With its June 17th vote, the board of supervisors significantly complicated the process by which a local water district can be formed. The new and untested district creation process will certainly require vastly more resources to implement than is available to any independent group. By taking this action, the Board effectively took management of the language of AB 2453 and therefore, the bill and the future district formation.

“PRAAGS is also concerned that recent amendments made in the State Senate Committees have taken the bill well beyond its original intent which was carefully crafted to address the governing structure of a California Water District. These changes significantly impact the powers granted to the proposed water district. Accordingly, these powers should be fully vetted by the Basin’s overliers and there should be broad public consensus as the district formation process continues. In light of these developments, PRAAGS cannot support AB 2453 as currently amended in the Senate Committees. We do continue to support the original AB 2453 legislation as it passed the Assembly and remain hopeful that the Senate will return this legislation to a bill for local control.

“PRAAGS now looks to Supervisors Mecham and Arnold for their guidance in unifying the Basin’s diverse interests. It remains clear that the Paso Robles Basin needs this District to bring it into balance with management and supplemental water sources. We are confident that any resultant Basin governance will be one that will concern itself with the needs of our agricultural community. PRAAGS is committed to continue to be engaged with the County and the public at all stages of the process going forward.”

Dana Merrill, vice-chairman of PRAAGS says: “We continue to believe that a water district with the proposed hybrid board is still the best solution to balancing the basin. PRAAGS has volunteered thousands of hours and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to educate the public about the need for a water district. We hope this investment is not wasted and our Supervisors will carry this process forward, which will require development of a broad consensus.”