Paso Robles Groundwater Authority proposes groundwater fee for large pumpers
Only agricultural, commercial and public water system users are subject to the proposed charge
– The Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority has proposed a groundwater management charge to fund the implementation of its Groundwater Sustainability Plan and meet the requirements of the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
Officials mailed notices to agricultural irrigators, commercial users and public water system pumpers listed on 1,315 parcels within the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin. Parcels with domestic wells that pump less than 2 acre-feet per year, known as de minimis extractors under state law, are exempt from the proposed charge and did not receive notices.
Those subject to the proposed fee may file written protests before or at a public hearing scheduled for Aug. 1. If a majority of the noticed parcels file protests, the fee cannot be enacted. If fewer than a majority file protests, the board may adopt the charge at the conclusion of the hearing.
Only agricultural, commercial and public water system users are subject to the proposed charge. Parcels with de minimis users are not included in the protest count.
According to the draft Cost of Service Study, the fee would support services including state-mandated monitoring and reporting, administration of the groundwater plan, regulatory programs, and groundwater demand reduction projects and actions.
“Implementing a basin-wide funding mechanism is critical to the success of the basin and maintaining local control as we implement the GSP to achieve sustainability by the regulatory 2040 deadline,” said chair Matt Turrentine. “If the proposed charge does not pass, the State could determine our local management efforts are inadequate and take control of groundwater management in the basin.”
If the state assumes control, users could be required to install meters and pay extraction fees directly to the state, according to PRAGA.
Residents can learn more by reviewing the draft Cost of Service Study at www.pasoroblesaga.org or attending one of several open houses. In-person sessions are scheduled for July 9 at 5 p.m. at Cuesta College in Paso Robles and July 10 at 5 p.m. at the Creston Community Center. A virtual workshop will take place July 15 at 6:30 p.m. through the county’s groundwater website at www.pasobasin.org.
In response to the press release issued July 9 by Taylor Blaskslee of the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority:
Hi Taylor,
Thank you for the press release. It clarifies some questions that I and other de minimis groundwater users have had. I’m personally happy that we’re exempt from any charges but very concerned about the voting rules you outlined in the notice. Specifically, only the groundwater users that will get charged a fee will have a vote. That is patently unfair when you examine the issue a little more deeply.
The stakes in the vote are highly asymmetrical. Commercial and agricultural groundwater users will absolutely vote to deny a fee – why wouldn’t they? Only a tiny percentage of profit-driven users would vote to increase their costs to help in the common good. The remainder can’t see past their P&L statement to help out the community. You’ve seen the “No Water Tax” signs sprouting up everywhere.
Meanwhile, we de minimis users are suffering from the excessive pumping by the ag/commercial users. When *they* pump the water levels down it is *our* wells that run dry. Not having a vote in the matter is completely unfair.
Please, help us de minimis users. Don’t let the agriculture and commercial guys cloud the issue and prevent the water use fees from being implemented. Because, clearly, the only way we can limit the pumping of our precious groundwater is to make excessive pumping costly through the imposition of pumping fees.
Thank you for listening. I look forward to hearing your reply.
Best regards,
Dan
What happened when you bought your property, and the document stated that you owned the mineral right beneath your property; usually gas an oil was exempt. I feel sorry for the de minimis users, but a lot of people buy rural properties without a well test or water study. one’s own water should be available for use for the property needs. You can’t quantify by industry because there are many variables. The sale of water beneath the property should be banned.
In response to the press release issued July 9 by Taylor Blaskslee of the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority:
Hi Taylor,
Thank you for the press release. It clarifies some questions that I and other de minimis groundwater users have had. I’m personally happy that we’re exempt from any charges but very concerned about the voting rules you outlined in the notice. Specifically, only the groundwater users that will get charged a fee will have a vote. That is patently unfair when you examine the issue a little more deeply.
The stakes in the vote are highly asymmetrical. Commercial and agricultural groundwater users will absolutely vote to deny a fee – why wouldn’t they? Only a tiny percentage of profit-driven users would vote to increase their costs to help in the common good. The remainder can’t see past their P&L statement to help out the community. You’ve seen the “No Water Tax” signs sprouting up everywhere.
Meanwhile, we de minimis users are suffering from the excessive pumping by the ag/commercial users. When *they* pump the water levels down it is *our* wells that run dry. Not having a vote in the matter is completely unfair.
Please, help us de minimis users. Don’t let the agriculture and commercial guys cloud the issue and prevent the water use fees from being implemented. Because, clearly, the only way we can limit the pumping of our precious groundwater is to make excessive pumping costly through the imposition of pumping fees.
Thank you for listening. I look forward to hearing your reply.
Best regards,
Dan
What happened when you bought your property, and the document stated that you owned the mineral right beneath your property; usually gas an oil was exempt. I feel sorry for the de minimis users, but a lot of people buy rural properties without a well test or water study. one’s own water should be available for use for the property needs. You can’t quantify by industry because there are many variables. The sale of water beneath the property should be banned.