6.9 22-343 3:30 P.M. - a) Consideration of Interim Urgency Ordinance Placing a Moratorium on New Agricultural and Cannabis Cultivation Projects; and b) Consideration of Letter to Governor Newsom Requesting a Halt on New Cannabis Cultivation Licensing Statewide; and c) Consideration of Requesting the Lake County Drought Task Force Discuss, Draft, and Provide Ag/Cannabis Guidelines During Drought Conditions; and d) Consideration of Discussion of Other Actions Regarding Drought
Lake county should consider denying any more large scale cannabis projects, and supporting small scale craft cannabis farms in getting better direct to market routes. This would promote a more sustainable growth of the cannabis industry locally. Small farms are more concerned with their environmental impact than large scale farms who are concerned with turning a profit.
Drought is a huge issue, and since our county does not own water rights to Clearlake or IVR, there has been overlooked instances of water misuse from these resources. For example, lake county water haulers with water permits out of Yolo county, taking water to cannabis grows out of Cache creek. Hopefully the disconnect of communication between the two counties can be patched.
Traditional food-producing agriculture should not be held to the same requirements as cannabis or wine grapes. This can be supported by the current food shortage and rising prices. Why would anyone want to discourage local food production?
A moratorium does not effectively manage water resources. We support projects utilizing best water management practices that can be developed with all county stakeholders. These BMPs should be in place every year with a supplemental drought management plan for all projects.
It is unfair to stop issuing local permits to those projects that have continually met a changing list of requirements. Every project should get its due diligence and discretionary review.
The LCCA opposes this agricultural moratorium. Please see the attached letter.
I support the temporary moratorium while more research is done. As a county not conveniently located near the state's water project, Lake County's does not have the convenience of receiving water from outside sources such as Shasta, Oroville, etc. This makes the county even more vulnerable to drought. We must rely on ourselves to protect the one resource none of us can live without, water. Mr. Ramirez's e-comment about drought, how it is now commonplace in the state and we should improve conservation policies while still promoting cannabis shows a glimpse into the mindset of the cannabis industry's desire to grow no matter the consequences to those around them. Traditional farmers find ways to decrease water usage in drought years even if it means letting the land go fallow. Cannabis ignores these issues until a moratorium is proposed. How many permitted growers decreased their canopy size last year VOLUNTARILY to 1/2 or more of what their permit allowed to address the drought?
A moratorium is both pointless and unfair. I have an application that has been pending for 2 years, I have watched others get their licenses as all of us continue to jump through hoop after hoop. Standards, regulations and taxation not applied to any other agricultural product in the county. With cannabis prices at an all time low, operators losing their businesses the Board of Supervisors sees it as a good time impose a ban on those able to come online? To create more barriers and cost for the people in this industry that is breathing new life into our county? Why are we not talking about the absolute glut of the vineyards? While my experts do a 24 hour well test for my hydrology report the neighboring vineyard uses their 2500gpm well to spray water over the top of their vines, but I suppose the grapevine canopy tax will cover the cost of firefighters sent to protect their crop. Impose water restrictions on all ag crops but do not punish those of us who haven't had our shot yet.
Clearlake Oaks Hillside Firewise Community Supports the Concept of this Moratorium but needs more work.
1) A longer Interim period of 120 days since there are very complicated issues with new precedents and goes beyond county lines.
2) We support ALL projects in the works to be delayed even if these projects have been loaded into CEQA (This should also include an interim moratorium on Monte Cristo, Lui Farms, Lamperti I, and Spring Valley Organics). Each Large Industrial Cannabis Crop is projected to utilize 10 to 100 million gallons of water per year w/ 12 of 16 projects in CLO alone. We are in a Mega-Drought, presently in the driest 22-year period in at least 1,200 years!
3) The County Drought Task Force should be reviewing and incorporating Sustainable Ground Water Management ACT and standards (SGMA) on all ground water basins in Lake county. And, the State grants funding for all of this work! https://water.ca.gov/programs/groundwater-management/sgma-groundwater-management.
I feel that placing a moratorium on all new agricultural projects is not an overall net positive for the county or the state. This is a short term, ineffective solution to an ongoing problem which will be faced for years to come. Droughts have unfortunately become commonplace in this great state, & we need to find ways to improve water conservation on existing and future agricultural projects, stopping agricultural developments is not the answer. Let’s take this challenge as an opportunity to enact policies to improve farming, not to stop it. Farming provides immeasurable benefits for the local economy, & it’s important to remember the positive effects when considering such a proposal. Every reasonable person in this county wants to make water usage more efficient and effective, so let’s find solutions that will do just that! Thank you for your consideration & I look forward to further discussions on how to improve agricultural practices for the betterment of our precious resources.
I support the Moratorium on new agriculture and cannabis cultivation projects. And I also support the letter to Governor Newsom as this should be addressed and supported State wide.
The full extent of the drought has not been felt and a minimum 45- day moratorium would give more insight and scientific evidence of what to expect moving forward The County has made great strides to protect the environment with the new leadership under Director Darby, McGuiness, Amelung and Code Enforcements Beltramo and staff in recent months. Scientifically monitored water availability studies and long-term effects of cannabis projects on human and wildlife health are needed to make the right decisions for the County. Moratoriums do work and give valuable time to complete studies not readily available yet on cannabis and our, and wildlife’s, health. Thank you for your consideration and insight into the drought and protecting Lake County.
Lake county should consider denying any more large scale cannabis projects, and supporting small scale craft cannabis farms in getting better direct to market routes. This would promote a more sustainable growth of the cannabis industry locally. Small farms are more concerned with their environmental impact than large scale farms who are concerned with turning a profit.
Drought is a huge issue, and since our county does not own water rights to Clearlake or IVR, there has been overlooked instances of water misuse from these resources. For example, lake county water haulers with water permits out of Yolo county, taking water to cannabis grows out of Cache creek. Hopefully the disconnect of communication between the two counties can be patched.
Traditional food-producing agriculture should not be held to the same requirements as cannabis or wine grapes. This can be supported by the current food shortage and rising prices. Why would anyone want to discourage local food production?
Please see the attached letter in opposition. Thank you.
A moratorium does not effectively manage water resources. We support projects utilizing best water management practices that can be developed with all county stakeholders. These BMPs should be in place every year with a supplemental drought management plan for all projects.
It is unfair to stop issuing local permits to those projects that have continually met a changing list of requirements. Every project should get its due diligence and discretionary review.
The LCCA opposes this agricultural moratorium. Please see the attached letter.
I support the temporary moratorium while more research is done. As a county not conveniently located near the state's water project, Lake County's does not have the convenience of receiving water from outside sources such as Shasta, Oroville, etc. This makes the county even more vulnerable to drought. We must rely on ourselves to protect the one resource none of us can live without, water. Mr. Ramirez's e-comment about drought, how it is now commonplace in the state and we should improve conservation policies while still promoting cannabis shows a glimpse into the mindset of the cannabis industry's desire to grow no matter the consequences to those around them. Traditional farmers find ways to decrease water usage in drought years even if it means letting the land go fallow. Cannabis ignores these issues until a moratorium is proposed. How many permitted growers decreased their canopy size last year VOLUNTARILY to 1/2 or more of what their permit allowed to address the drought?
A moratorium is both pointless and unfair. I have an application that has been pending for 2 years, I have watched others get their licenses as all of us continue to jump through hoop after hoop. Standards, regulations and taxation not applied to any other agricultural product in the county. With cannabis prices at an all time low, operators losing their businesses the Board of Supervisors sees it as a good time impose a ban on those able to come online? To create more barriers and cost for the people in this industry that is breathing new life into our county? Why are we not talking about the absolute glut of the vineyards? While my experts do a 24 hour well test for my hydrology report the neighboring vineyard uses their 2500gpm well to spray water over the top of their vines, but I suppose the grapevine canopy tax will cover the cost of firefighters sent to protect their crop. Impose water restrictions on all ag crops but do not punish those of us who haven't had our shot yet.
Clearlake Oaks Hillside Firewise Community Supports the Concept of this Moratorium but needs more work.
1) A longer Interim period of 120 days since there are very complicated issues with new precedents and goes beyond county lines.
2) We support ALL projects in the works to be delayed even if these projects have been loaded into CEQA (This should also include an interim moratorium on Monte Cristo, Lui Farms, Lamperti I, and Spring Valley Organics). Each Large Industrial Cannabis Crop is projected to utilize 10 to 100 million gallons of water per year w/ 12 of 16 projects in CLO alone. We are in a Mega-Drought, presently in the driest 22-year period in at least 1,200 years!
3) The County Drought Task Force should be reviewing and incorporating Sustainable Ground Water Management ACT and standards (SGMA) on all ground water basins in Lake county. And, the State grants funding for all of this work! https://water.ca.gov/programs/groundwater-management/sgma-groundwater-management.
I feel that placing a moratorium on all new agricultural projects is not an overall net positive for the county or the state. This is a short term, ineffective solution to an ongoing problem which will be faced for years to come. Droughts have unfortunately become commonplace in this great state, & we need to find ways to improve water conservation on existing and future agricultural projects, stopping agricultural developments is not the answer. Let’s take this challenge as an opportunity to enact policies to improve farming, not to stop it. Farming provides immeasurable benefits for the local economy, & it’s important to remember the positive effects when considering such a proposal. Every reasonable person in this county wants to make water usage more efficient and effective, so let’s find solutions that will do just that! Thank you for your consideration & I look forward to further discussions on how to improve agricultural practices for the betterment of our precious resources.
I support the Moratorium on new agriculture and cannabis cultivation projects. And I also support the letter to Governor Newsom as this should be addressed and supported State wide.
The full extent of the drought has not been felt and a minimum 45- day moratorium would give more insight and scientific evidence of what to expect moving forward The County has made great strides to protect the environment with the new leadership under Director Darby, McGuiness, Amelung and Code Enforcements Beltramo and staff in recent months. Scientifically monitored water availability studies and long-term effects of cannabis projects on human and wildlife health are needed to make the right decisions for the County. Moratoriums do work and give valuable time to complete studies not readily available yet on cannabis and our, and wildlife’s, health. Thank you for your consideration and insight into the drought and protecting Lake County.