The importance of groundwater cannot be overstated.  Globally, as much as 50 percent of the population gets a portion of its drinking water from groundwater.  As the world population continues to swell and these water sources become increasingly vulnerable, sustainable water management has become key to securing long-term availability.  Water vulnerability is a growing concern for multiple states within the U.S., prompting measures to better protect this vital resource.  In California, 85 percent of the population relies on groundwater in some capacity and water scarcity is exacerbated by rapid population growth and climate change.  To better manage shortfalls, the state has relied on numerous policy actions, one example being the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).

Enacted in 2014, the SGMA required 94 out of 515 California groundwater basins to form agencies to administer groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) at the local level that would span 50 years and include navigating a 20-year drought.[1]  Those basins, combined with areas that have already established groundwater oversight, account for 98% — 20 million acre-feet — of pumped water within the state’s groundwater basins, according to the Department of Water Resources.[2]

In Sonoma county three Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (SGAs) were created: Sonoma Valley, Santa Rosa and Petaluma.  Since 2017, the costs associated with the program were covered by existing agencies; however, the cost will now fall to the three agencies.  If agencies do not choose to set groundwater fees, a flat fee would be assessed by the state of $40 per acre foot.  The proposed fees across the three agencies vary substantially due to the number of wells in each basin:  In Santa Rosa a fee of $18 to $25 per year is proposed, in Sonoma Valley a fee of $48 to $80 per year, and Petaluma is a proposed fee of $115 to $200.[3]

For farmers of dairy, livestock, flowers and produce, these prices challenge their budgets; they are not able to reduce the amount of water needed without reductions in production and consequently will be forced to increase their costs to cover the additional well fees.

Sonoma’s SGA boards must determine the fee structure they will impose in June and if approved, residents would likely see the fees in their property tax bills in the fall.

[1] “Groundwater Sustainability Fee.” Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sustainability Agency, santarosaplaingroundwater.org/finances/fee/.

[2] Kovner, Guy. “Sonoma County Proposes First-Ever Fees for Well Water Pumping.” Santa Rosa Press Democrat, The Press Democrat, 20 Apr. 2022, www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sonoma-county-unveils-first-ever-proposed-well-water-fees-under-pioneering/.

[3] Kovner, Guy. “Sonoma County Proposes First-Ever Fees for Well Water Pumping.” Santa Rosa Press Democrat, The Press Democrat, 20 Apr. 2022, www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sonoma-county-unveils-first-ever-proposed-well-water-fees-under-pioneering/.