On Tuesday, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a temporary 45-day moratorium on the approval of new agricultural water well permits in the Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency’s focus areas. … On Oct. 7, a public hearing will be held by the board to consider whether to extend the 45-day moratorium. According to county counsel Phil Pogledich, the next extension could be for 10 months and 15 days. … The steady increase in conversion of dry-farmed or unirrigated lands to perennial crops in the focus areas has raised concerns. The moratorium will temporarily halt the issuance of new agricultural well permits in the focus areas. 

Other groundwater news:

• State Water Resources Control Board: GAMA – Effects of recharge on groundwater quality