7.2 24-525Consideration of rescission of urgency Ordinance No. 3113 amending urgency Ordinance No. 3110 prohibiting water hauling to commercial agricultural operations including cannabis cultivation sites
Rescinding Ordinance 3113 as a housekeeping measure makes sense; after all, the board lifted the emergency drought declaration rendering Ordinance 3113 irrelevant.
Ordinance 3113 has a feature that reflects the board’s regard for a Vision 2028 value, protecting the well-being of residents. Please consider retaining this feature in another ordinance or policy. The feature of interest is prohibiting commercial cannabis growers from using hauled water.
Serious conditions led to the passage of Ordinance 3113. Ideally, water use issues such as water hauling are addressed in a comprehensive groundwater management policy. Lake County’s effort to update its General Plan and Local Area Plans presents an opportunity for Lake County to declare its values and vision for future growth through actions designed to realize that vision. Actions to preserve groundwater are more effective when executed as a comprehensive policy rather than piecemeal ordinances and regulations.
Now is the time to revisit groundwater management policy. Policy on water-hauling for agricultural use should reflect the county’s priorities and vision for the Lake County we wish for ourselves, our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Agriculture’s (including cannabis cultivation) need for water hauling indicates that areas in the county don’t have adequate water supply. Taking water from one part of the county to another as a long-term solution affects groundwater supply sustainability.
Cannabis is a water-intensive crop, and its long-term effect on aquifers is not known. Lake County doesn’t have data to support the claim that Lake County aquifers and wells will continue to recharge at current rates when subject to repeated great water demand. For better groundwater management, the county can build on the General Plan and Local Area Plans update efforts. Those efforts can include collecting data on water usage, wells, and aquifers.
Thank you for your consideration.
Margaux Kambara
Lake County Resident, Registered Voter & Property Owner
Honorable Board of Supervisors,
Rescinding Ordinance 3113 as a housekeeping measure makes sense; after all, the board lifted the emergency drought declaration rendering Ordinance 3113 irrelevant.
Ordinance 3113 has a feature that reflects the board’s regard for a Vision 2028 value, protecting the well-being of residents. Please consider retaining this feature in another ordinance or policy. The feature of interest is prohibiting commercial cannabis growers from using hauled water.
Serious conditions led to the passage of Ordinance 3113. Ideally, water use issues such as water hauling are addressed in a comprehensive groundwater management policy. Lake County’s effort to update its General Plan and Local Area Plans presents an opportunity for Lake County to declare its values and vision for future growth through actions designed to realize that vision. Actions to preserve groundwater are more effective when executed as a comprehensive policy rather than piecemeal ordinances and regulations.
Now is the time to revisit groundwater management policy. Policy on water-hauling for agricultural use should reflect the county’s priorities and vision for the Lake County we wish for ourselves, our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Agriculture’s (including cannabis cultivation) need for water hauling indicates that areas in the county don’t have adequate water supply. Taking water from one part of the county to another as a long-term solution affects groundwater supply sustainability.
Cannabis is a water-intensive crop, and its long-term effect on aquifers is not known. Lake County doesn’t have data to support the claim that Lake County aquifers and wells will continue to recharge at current rates when subject to repeated great water demand. For better groundwater management, the county can build on the General Plan and Local Area Plans update efforts. Those efforts can include collecting data on water usage, wells, and aquifers.
Thank you for your consideration.
Margaux Kambara
Lake County Resident, Registered Voter & Property Owner