Groundwater Authority adopts Resolution 01-25 to create second transient pool; Director Griffin votes no

The Groundwater Authority on a recorded vote adopted Resolution 01-25, establishing a second transient pool intended to provide temporary groundwater storage and allocation to support an import project and ease the transition to sustainability.

Board members voted after public comment and a period of debate. Chairman Heyman, Vice Chair Peters, Director Ettinger (also recorded as Ettinger/Etnier in the record) and Director Vallejo voted to approve the resolution; Director Griffin recorded a dissenting vote. The motion carried.

The resolution formalizes authority for a second transient pool. Staff said the pool includes a pricing scale and that small farmers may request participation; staff described an available allocation of 4,000 acre-feet to be divided among participants based on acreage returned. A staff presenter said the recitals in the staff report document historical reasons the Groundwater Authority believes imported water is needed and argued that the recitals provide context for the policy change.

Public commenters and board members raised a range of concerns. Director…