Farmers Urge Gov. Brown To Veto Legislation That Would Regulate Pumping California's Groundwater
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— California Central Valley farmers are urging Gov. Jerry Brown to veto legislation that would regulate the pumping of well water in California for the first time, despite the state's ongoing and severe drought.
About half of the state's water comes from wells, according to Doug Parker—director of UC's California Institute for Water Resources. California is one of the few states that does not regulate pumping of groundwater. You can drill a well on your own land and suck out as much water as you can get, he said.
But some experts warn that something needs to be done about the depletion of the state's groundwater.
"Because of the drought we've been seeing a lot more pumping of groundwater, which has been lowering ground water tables and actually causing ground subsidence. The ground actually decreased or depressed in some areas, which causes infrastructure damage as well," Parker said.
The state legislature responded by passing a package of bills that would give local water agencies the power to regulate, fine, even shut down wells. The state could step in if the locals don't.
Farmers Urge Gov. Brown To Veto Law That Would Regulate Pumping California's Groundwater
A coalition of agricultural groups held a news conference in Madera, telling the governor that if he signs this bill, even more valuable farmland will simply dry up.
Parker said cutbacks are inevitable.
"In some areas it is going to mean that some farmers are going to have to cut back on how much groundwater they pump. They're not in a sustainable situation now, so they either have to cutback voluntarily now or they'll cut back in the future when that ground water runs out," said Parker.
The governor hasn't said whether he'll sign the bills.
