Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Groundwater Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves special-assessment notices to collect nearly $900,000 in unpaid groundwater penalties
Summary
The board, acting as GSA directors, adopted a resolution to place notices of levy for unpaid groundwater-penalty assessments on affected properties—$649,000 in the Madera Subbasin and $242,000 in the Chowchilla Subbasin—representing penalties from 2024–25; staff said repeated outreach was made and 17 farm units have been in penalty across 2023–25.
Stephanie Magnusson, Director of Water and Natural Resources, presented a GSA resolution to place special-assessment notices and levies on properties with unpaid penalties for excessive groundwater extraction under California Water Code §10732.
Magnusson said 2024 unpaid penalties totaled $4,800 (five APNs/two farm units). For 2025 the count includes $649,000 in penalties from 65 APNs (28 farm units) in the Madera Subbasin and $242,000 from 15 APNs (seven farms) in the Chowchilla Subbasin—combined, nearly $900,000. She said the GSA provides multiple notices, monthly reporting and direct outreach; property owners have 45 days to pay once a notice is issued, after which staff will place the assessments on the property tax roll.
Board members asked about repeat offenders and collection risk if penalties exceed land value. Magnusson said 17 farm units (about 5% of 360 total) were in penalty for 2023–25; she acknowledged collection through the tax roll is time consuming and may not fully recover all penalties if property values are low. Supervisors discussed additional enforcement measures, including potentially reducing future allocations for blatant noncompliance.
The board adopted the resolution and directed staff to proceed with notices of levy and placement on the tax roll; the motion passed with directors voting 5–0.
Ending: Staff will issue notices, allow a 45-day payment window, and then place unpaid assessments on the tax roll; the board requested staff explore options to discourage repeat deliberate over-extraction.
