The Abridged version:
- The Yolo County Board of Supervisors extended a moratorium on permits for new agricultural wells in parts of the county.
- The moratorium can last up to 10 and a half months, but supervisors can decide to end it sooner.
- According to county staff, the added time will allow them to weigh zoning, land use and permitting needs for the affected areas.
At a packed meeting on Tuesday morning, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to extend a moratorium on issuing permits for new agricultural wells in portions of the county. The move comes as many Yolo County farmers worry about increased pressure on their groundwater supply.
“Fundamentally, the conditions that led to the initial 45-day moratorium remain,” District 2 Supervisor Lucas Frerichs said. “This is one of the tools in the toolkit. It’s not meant to be a hammer.”
On Aug. 26, the supervisors voted to implement a 45-day moratorium, an action that would have sunset at the end of the week. Tuesday’s decision to extend the pause applies to certain focus areas, which includes much of the county’s west side as well as Dunnigan Hills. The extension, up to 10 months and 15 days, means the county will likely not issue permits for new agricultural wells in those spots into next year.
Public speaks on Yolo County well moratorium
The pause was first implemented after several farmers raised concerns about water levels dropping in their wells, even as new ones were being put in nearby to irrigate orchards for perennial crops.
Some of those farmers spoke at the meeting.
Jackie Lundy, who has a 40-acre farm in Plainfield Ridge, spoke in support of the extension.
“As the orchards moved in right next to us, we’re all just kind of holding our breath hoping our wells won’t go out,” she said. “I’m really hoping this moratorium for the next 10-12 months will give us time to breathe.”
But not everyone completely supported the decision.
Ryan Thomason, who represents the interests of C. Mondavi and Family, said the moratorium is too far reaching.
“The moratorium as written is overly broad and should be narrowly tailored,” he said. “It’s a very narrow issue and it’s a very heavy-handed response that the county is taking.”
Supervisors stress urgency for groundwater policy
April Meneghetti, Yolo County’s Director of Environmental Health, said at the meeting that the county needs the additional time to make zoning, land use and permitting considerations for the focus areas. Staff is also in the process of setting up working groups with interested stakeholders that will play a role in establishing policy considerations related to groundwater.
All of that takes time, but supervisors stressed that the staff should work to resolve this issue before the 10 months are up.
“Internally, we should have a goal of (the moratorium) being seven months or six months,” said District 5 Supervisor Angel Barajas.
In the meantime, the supervisors will check in with staff every 60 days for updates on the progress of their work.
This extended moratorium does not cover properties that are partially in the focus area and still includes an economic hardship exemption.
Daniel Hennessy is a reporter covering Yolo County at Abridged.