Title
Consider adoption of an urgency ordinance prohibiting new wells in seawater intruded aquifers, with specified exemptions. (ADDED VIA ADDENDA)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt an urgency ordinance prohibiting new wells in seawater intruded aquifers, with specified exemptions.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On May 22, 2018, the Board of Supervisors ("Board"), pursuant to Government Code section 65858, adopted urgency interim Ordinance No. 5302, temporarily prohibiting new wells in seawater intruded areas in the 180/400 foot aquifer subbasin, including the deep aquifers, of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin, with specified exemptions, pending the county's study and consideration of regulations, but expiring on July 5, 2018, unless extended.
On June 26, 2018, also pursuant to Government Code section 65858, the Board adopted Ordinance No. 5303 which extended Ordinance No. 5302 until May 21, 2020. With the anticipated expiration of Ordinance No. 5302, it is necessary for the County to consider whether continued regulations are necessary or appropriate to address the conditions addressed by that Ordinance.
On May 19, 2020, the Board is scheduled to receive a report from the Monterey County Water Resources Agency describing the current conditions in the 180/400 foot aquifer subbasin and deep aquifers indicating that the conditions described in the Findings and Declarations of Ordinance Nos. 5302 and 5303, and which supported their adoption, continue to exist and worsen, and thus continue pose an immediate threat to the public peace, health and safety In light of these continuing and worsening conditions, and because Ordinance No. 5302 is set to expire, it is therefore necessary to consider continuing regulations to address those conditions until a long-term plan can be developed and implemented to address those conditions.
Ordinance No. 5302 generally imposed a prohibition on the construction of new wells in the 180/400 fo...
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