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Public commenter urges OWEB to pursue incentives and voluntary agreements to reduce groundwater use
Summary
An interested party urged the RAC to explore incentives and voluntary agreements to reduce groundwater withdrawals in confined circumstances and to consult organizations experienced with groundwater-dependent ecosystems.
An interested party urged the RAC to consider incentive-based approaches to reducing groundwater withdrawals where demonstrable benefits to groundwater-dependent ecosystems can be shown.
"No other state has a program to legally protect groundwater," said Ken Beerely, who submitted written comments and gave verbal remarks. He urged OWEB to explore incentives for acquisition of groundwater rights under confined circumstances and recommended engaging organizations such as The Nature Conservancy that have worked on groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Beerely also pointed to a statutory voluntary agreement mechanism that has existed in state water law, saying it may provide a pathway for contract-based reductions in groundwater use.
Staff thanked Beerely for the comments and noted OWEB will continue internal and interagency conversations about groundwater and may convene a work group if needed.
