Madera County GSA committee recommends domestic-well mitigation fee to board; public raises accuracy, cost and opt-out questions

Summary

Committee voted to recommend a resolution to the full board establishing a limited domestic well mitigation fee (staff-recommended example: $67 per enrolled acre, falling to $43), based on an assumed $35,000 per well cost and a 73% county share of subbasin costs. Public commenters urged tighter cost caps, clearer rules and annual reviews.

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. — The Madera County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) Committee voted July 1 to recommend that the Board of Directors adopt a resolution establishing a domestic well mitigation fee for the Madera Subbasin to fund mitigation for wells that go dry as groundwater levels decline.

The committee voted 2-0 to forward the staff recommendation. The resolution presented to the committee would amend Resolution 2022-086 and repeal and replace Resolution 2022-198 to establish revised fees for the county GSA's domestic well mitigation program.

Why it matters: State funding (including the SAFER program) that previously helped pay for emergency or interim household water needs is being reduced, staff said, and local mitigation funding is expected to be needed as the Subbasin adjusts to SGMA-required reductions in pumping and allocations. A local mitigation fund can provide casing and drilling assistance for qualifying domestic wells that go dry because of groundwater decline.

Key details from staff presentation - Staff recommended a limited fee targeted at domestic well mitigation rather than collecting the full suite of…

Madera County GSA committee recommends domestic-well mitigation fee to board; public raises accuracy, cost and opt-out questions

Summary

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