Stanislaus supervisors adopt Modesto Subbasin well mitigation plan, commission third-party review
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Summary
The Board voted 5-0 to approve a well mitigation plan and groundwater use management program for the Modesto Subbasin, directing county staff to implement the program, commission a third‑party technical review to reconcile competing studies, and appoint two supervisors to represent the Non District East.
The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution to adopt a Well Mitigation Plan and a Groundwater Use Management Program for the Modesto Subbasin on Jan. 27, citing state deadlines and a need to maintain local control under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
The staff presentation from Rob Costa, director of Environmental Resources, and Christine McKinnon, the county'identified water resources manager, said the plan responds to direction from the Department of Water Resources and is designed to prevent undesirable results such as chronic lowering of groundwater levels. McKinnon told the Board that "the modeling indicated that 29 wells could potentially go dry when the levels drop below the minimum thresholds to the interim milestones," and that the well mitigation program is intended to provide emergency relief and long‑term solutions for impacted domestic wells.
The groundwater allocation framework presented to the Board showed a historical pumping figure of roughly 317,600 acre‑feet per year and a required subbasin reduction of about 50,600 acre‑feet. Staff described emergency measures (bottled water, tanks, water delivery) and long‑term options (well deepening, replacement, or consolidation to larger safe systems) as part of the mitigation toolbox. The program will use a technical review committee and contract with Self‑Help Enterprises for implementation services where appropriate.
Supervisors raised concerns about reconciling two competing technical studies for the Non District East and emphasized that urban ratepayers should not be required to subsidize out‑of‑district agricultural pumping. In response, staff confirmed the department intends to hire a third‑party technical advisor as part of the action plan development to review competing studies and provide recommendations.
Board members added two items to the staff recommendations before voting: that the county commission an independent study comparing the two existing competing analyses and that the county serve as steward to represent the Non District East in implementation discussions. The Board also appointed Supervisors Buck Condit and Terry Withrow to participate in ongoing action plan discussions.
The department will return to the Board for policy direction as action plans are developed; staff said final GSA approval and implementation steps must happen to meet state timelines with full implementation targeted for January 2027. No protest votes were recorded: the motion carried 5‑0.
The Board directed staff to draft action plans for the Non District East, to bring recommended policy language back for Board review, and to pursue the third‑party technical review prior to forwarding final recommendations to the Groundwater Sustainability Agency for adoption.
