Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority releases water data for proposed charge
– The Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority has released parcel-level water consumption data and proposed groundwater management charges for fiscal year 2025-2026 on its website, www.pasoroblesAGA.org. Parcel owners are encouraged to review their parcel data.
The authority is proposing a groundwater management charge to fund the implementation of its Groundwater Sustainability Plan and comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Affected groundwater pumpers were previously notified by mail about the proposed charge, the basis for the proposed rate as outlined in a draft cost of service study, and the upcoming public hearing.
The proposed charge would apply to agricultural groundwater pumpers, commercial operations including wineries, and public water supply systems. Rural domestic pumpers, categorized as de minimis extractors, will not be charged.
For agricultural users, groundwater use was calculated using a satellite-based evapotranspiration methodology calibrated by a local weather station network, according to the Paso Robles Groundwater Authority. For fiscal year 2025-2026, the evapotranspiration data was collected from August 2024 to May 2025, representing approximately 66 percent of the annual total. In future years, pumpers would be charged based on 12 months of evapotranspiration data.
For commercial and public water supply systems, water use was calculated as described in the draft cost of service study. Proposed charges for each parcel are included in the summary of proposed charges available on the PRAGA website.
The PRAGA Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on the proposed charge at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 1 at the Paso Robles City Council Chambers, located at 1000 Spring Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446.
For more information, including the draft cost of service study, visit https://www.pasoroblesAGA.org.
