Yreka, Calif. — The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors saw
more balance during its public hearing Tuesday on its proposed
groundwater advisory council ordinance, with a number of
speakers on both sides of the issue making their voices heard.
The ordinance would allow for groundwater advisory committees to
be established by resolution of the board in order to gather
information specific to groundwater basins in the county for
formal comments from the board and for general knowledge of how
the basins are functioning.
The board has discussed making resolutions for the Scott Valley,
Tulelake and Butte Valley groundwater basins at recent meetings.
At recent meetings discussing the ordinance, the board heard
concerns about the committees infringing on constitutional and
property rights, the creation of “more bureaucracy,” and the
potential for state intervention on the committees.
While some of those concerns were repeated Tuesday, other
members of the public came forward urging the board to enact the
committees to combat state intervention in groundwater
management, an authority that falls to counties in the
California Water Code.
While some changes were made due to public comments gathered at
previous meetings, some commenters took issue with the ordinance
still containing language allowing those outside a particular
basin but who own land and use water within it being eligible
for the committees.
Supporters of the ordinance urged the board to adopt as soon as
possible, given a number of groundwater management changes they
see coming in the near future, including a bill referenced by
County Counsel Thomas Guarino that would require counties to
begin groundwater management plans or lose their authority to
the state.
Supervisors Grace Bennett, Marcia Armstrong and Ed Valenzuela
agreed that urgency was an issue for them, with Jim Cook and
Michael Kobseff expressing a desire to have more time to work
with the ordinance and the public.
With a vote to continue the public hearing for a second reading
of the ordinance on Oct. 19, that split persisted, with the
second reading set for that date at 10 a.m. by a vote of three
to two.
After the second reading, the board will have the opportunity to
adopt the ordinance.
