California: Vineyard owners, others rally to establish California Water District

(SanLuisObispo) -  The way to replenish the Paso Robles groundwater basin is not to impose restrictions on the agricultural community, but to push for a California Water District that would have the power to establish short-term and long-term solutions to stabilize the aquifer. 

That’s the message from the Paso Robles Agricultural Alliance for Groundwater Solutions, a group of vineyard owners and other agriculturalists who want to establish a special district that could obtain loans to help people dig deeper wells, as well as fund projects to get supplemental water.

The association, also known as PRAAGS, hosted an informational meeting Monday at the Paso Robles Inn, where they encouraged a crowd of more than 300 people to speak with a unified voice to stop the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors from adopting emergency ordinances that could place limits on land use or pumping. 

“We don’t want to presume to tell you what to think, but we want you to be informed, be involved and show up,” said the chairman of the group, Jerry Reaugh, who urged the audience to attend the Aug. 6 Board of Supervisors meeting. “Let the supervisors know what you think.”