Joining surrounding counties, a temporary moratorium on new water well permits was approved and enacted by the Glenn County Board of Supervisors Tuesday. The action comes amidst anecdotal accounts of falling ground water levels and sputtering wells across the region.
Those already in possession of a well drilling permit are unaffected by the move. The board will consider regulations concerning the repair and replacement of faulty or failed wells by Sept. 15.
While the vote was unanimous, several local residents said the blanket move goes too far. They questioned why a moratorium should be throughout the county when ground water levels appear stable in some places.
“If you’re close to the river, you’re at the bottom of the hill, yeah, water runs down there, you’ll have more than the guys on top,” said Glenn County Supervisor Dwight Foltz. “And if you keep pulling out of the bottom, the guys on top lose. So it does affect your neighbor that’s ten miles away, how much water you pump.”
Thad Bettner, general manager of the Glenn Colusa Irrigation District, said the decision shouldn’t impact the district’s plans for five more production wells. He said environmental documents for the wells won’t be completed before spring. The moratorium may expire or be amended by then
