Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Well Permit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves Pheasant Run well permit with meters, pumping limits and monitoring
Summary
The council approved a well installation permit for Pheasant Run LLC replacing the Kona well, requiring a flow meter, a 30-day maximum continuous pumping limit, a 600 gpm maximum rate, monthly reporting and measures to buy surface water in lieu of pumping when available.
The Chowchilla City Council voted to approve a well installation permit for Pheasant Run LLC to replace an existing Kona well in the Green Hills area, imposing conditions tied to groundwater protection and monitoring.
City staff said the applicant supplied a hydrology study reviewed by the city hydrologist, who recommended approval with conditions intended to limit impacts on the city’s water infrastructure. Those conditions include installation of a flow meter, a maximum continuous pumping period of 30 days (with recovery breaks), a maximum pumping rate of 600 gallons per minute, monthly reporting of total gallons pumped to the city when available, purchasing surface water from the Chowchilla Water District in lieu of groundwater pumping where practicable, and retirement of older on-site wells as they fail.
A Pheasant Run representative, Dan, described recent water use at the facility and said the operation is replacing aging wells. He provided historical estimates and usage numbers: in 2019 the facility estimated roughly 900 acre‑feet would be used annually; in 2023 the facility used 1,010 acre‑feet (590 from onsite wells, 418 purchased from the Chowchilla Water District) and through August 2024 the facility was invoiced for approximately 595 acre‑feet (about 457 pumped, 38 purchased). Dan said he expects 2024 usage to be near or under the 900 acre‑feet estimate.
Jason and staff answered council questions about percolation, evaporation losses from surface acres and recharge credit work being pursued with the water district. Jason noted the hydrologist on the project is Ken Schmidt and that the hydrologist concluded the proposed well would have "no to minimal impact" on the city’s existing infrastructure.
Councilmember Trost left the room and recused due to a conflict before discussion began; the permit motion was made and seconded, and the application was approved by roll call (yes votes recorded for Mister Ahmed, Mister Bergen, Mister Chavez and Mister Smith).
