TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Supervisor Haschak and Supervisor McGourty
MEETING DATE: July 12, 2022
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Supervisor Haschak
PHONE:
707-463-4221
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Supervisor McGourty
PHONE:
707-463-4221
ITEM TYPE: Regular Agenda
TIME ALLOCATED FOR ITEM: 1 Hour
AGENDA TITLE:
title
Discussion and Possible Action Including Direction to Staff to Conduct Legal Analysis Regarding Regulation of Water Extraction/Mining from Private Wells for Commercial Purposes and Water Hauling
(Sponsors: Supervisor Haschak and Supervisor McGourty)
End
RECOMMENDED ACTION/MOTION:
recommendation
Direct County Counsel to use the proposed ordinance to return to the Board with a legal analysis of a draft ordinance for extraction/mining from private wells for commercial purposes and water hauling.
End
PREVIOUS BOARD/BOARD COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
Board of Supervisors discussed these issues on March 15, 2022 and directed ad hoc to return to the Board with a more detailed draft of an ordinance.
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
With the drought and increased aridity as ongoing issues in Mendocino County, people are increasingly concerned about wells going dry and aquifers being excessively tapped. This concern is exacerbated by extraction and hauling of water for non-permitted cannabis grows. There are many reports of people with wells selling water that is then transported to distant locations for unpermitted usages, which may also be causing damage to roads and bridges that were not intended to handle regular traffic by heavy water trucks.
The purpose of this proposed ordinance is to:
1. Protect the County's groundwater resources
2. Avoid adverse effects to neighboring well owners
3. Limit environmental and social impacts of hauling water from private wells
In order to address the growing concerns about water scarcity, including water diversion for illegal purposes, the recommendation is that the Board of Supervisors direct staff to analyze the propose...
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