On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority (PRAGA) held an open house to discuss the possibility of implementing a new fee for commercial groundwater users. This added charge will be used to fund the county’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan in the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin area. The meeting was held to inform the public of the upcoming changes while also encouraging questions from them ahead of the formal hearing scheduled on August 1. … The agency says the fee will help fund the implementation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan, a requirement under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The collected revenue will contribute to the management of the basin to achieve long-term water balance in the region. As per a press release, this fee will not be applicable to domestic well owners who use less than two acre-feet of water per year.

Other regional water management news:

• The Sun (San Bernadino, Calif.): Ontario says regional water recycling project will cost customers too much