Merced supervisors will get another look at proposed groundwater ordinance

The Merced County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will get a second look at the county’s proposed groundwater ordinance, which includes some minor language changes and modifications based on community feedback.

County administrators first presented the proposed ordinance at a board meeting last month. During the meeting, supervisors received input from residents and stakeholders on improving the ordinance.

Based on the feedback, several changes have been proposed, including changing the ordinance type from “urgency” to “regular,” establishing an appeals process and naming the county’s Environmental Health division as the department responsible for the ordinance.

The new ordinance regulates out-of-county groundwater transfers and sales through a permitting process, allowing the county the opportunity to evaluate each project individually and to consider potential impacts.

It would also put in place a permit system that would require anyone wanting to add or make changes to a well to answer several questions about the well and its water use before being approved.

The permit system would likely evaluate the availability of surface water, the well’s depth and if the applicant intends to change crops, resulting in an increased need for water, as well as other questions.

Merced County does not have an ordinance that prohibits sending groundwater out of the county, often referred to as groundwater mining. San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Madera and Fresno counties all have some form of groundwater regulation.

County officials took a critical look at establishing an ordinance after two private landowners in May proposed a $46 million groundwater sale to two water districts in Stanislaus County. The new ordinance would not stop that impending sale.

The proposed ordinance also addresses countywide groundwater conditions, such as subsidence, depleting groundwater levels and increased risk of water quality degradation, according to county documents.

The board will also set an official first reading of the ordinance for 10 a.m. Dec. 9 and a second reading with possible adoption for 10 a.m. Dec. 16.

This story was originally published November 23, 2014 at 4:16 PM with the headline "Merced supervisors will get another look at proposed groundwater ordinance."