Paso Robles groundwater authority releases draft groundwater fee study
Public review period will continue through June 8
– The Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority released its draft rate and fee study report and opened a public review and appeals process for its proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 groundwater fee program.
The draft report outlines the technical and legal basis for a proposed fee structure intended to fund groundwater sustainability work required under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
The authority identified two upcoming dates for landowners. On May 27, the board of directors will hold a public meeting to consider adopting a resolution to establish the groundwater fee and place charges on the county tax roll. June 8 is the deadline to submit appeals.
“Releasing this draft report is a critical step in our commitment to transparency and community engagement,” Board Chairman Matt Turrentine said. “We are asking landowners to review their water use data and use the appeals process to address any inaccuracies. This process exists to make sure the fee, if adopted, is accurate and fair for everyone in the basin.”
Beginning May 8, the authority opened a 20-day public review period during which landowners may examine Water Year 2025 consumed groundwater use data used as the basis for the proposed fee. Property owners who believe their data is inaccurate may submit a formal appeal by June 8.
Appeals may be submitted by email or by mail to PO Box 82 in Paso Robles. The authority said successful appeals will require documentation such as flow meter records, electric bills for pumps, crop yield records, or documentation of alternative water supplies. Additional examples of supporting documentation are included in the appeals notice available on the authority’s website.
The proposed fee is authorized under California Water Code Section 10730 and would be calculated using consumed groundwater use for Water Year 2025, which runs from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025.
If approved, the fee would fund the authority’s approved fiscal year 2026-2027 budget of $1,095,446. The budget includes groundwater monitoring, compliance activities, reporting requirements, and program administration intended to keep the Paso Robles Subbasin on track toward the state-mandated 2040 sustainability deadline.
The Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority is a joint powers authority formed to manage the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin in compliance with California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The authority includes the City of Paso Robles, the County of San Luis Obispo, the Shandon-San Juan Water District, and the Estrella-El Pomar-Creston Water District.
