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Siskiyou County, California, Groundwater Extraction Permits, Measure H (November 2016)
| Measure H: Siskiyou County Groundwater Extraction Permits |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 Defeated
|
| Topic: |
| Local water |
| Related articles |
| Local water on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Siskiyou County, California ballot measures County governance on the ballot |
| See also |
| Siskiyou County, California |
A an initiative dealing with groundwater permits was on the ballot for Siskiyou County voters in Siskiyou County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of amend the groundwater regulation ordinance to require a groundwater extraction permit for extraction from all groundwater sources intended for out-of-county uses, including sources for which county law did not require a permit and extraction for the purpose of bottling as drinking water. |
| A no vote was a vote against amend the groundwater regulation ordinance, thereby leaving a permit required for only certain defined basins and an exception for water used for bottled drinking water. |
Election results
| Measure H | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| No | 11,002 | 55.48% | ||
| Yes | 8,828 | 44.52% | ||
- Election results from Siskiyou County Clerk's Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
Groundwater Management Initiative Seeking to Amend Siskiyou County Code. Shall the County of Siskiyou amend Articles 1 through 3 of Chapter 13 of Title 3 of the Siskiyou County Code to extend the requirement to obtain a groundwater extraction permit to all other groundwater sources in the County not currently defined as a groundwater basin when groundwater is extracted for use outside the County, and to remove the permitting exemption for commercial water bottling enterprises?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Siskiyou County Counsel:
| “ |
This measure is a citizen’s initiative to amend Articles 1 through 3, of Chapter 13 of Title 3 of the Siskiyou County Code, which currently regulates the extraction of groundwater from certain defined basins within Siskiyou County for use outside the basin from which the water is extracted. If approved by a majority of the voters, this measure will amend the current groundwater regulation ordinance to extend the requirement to obtain a groundwater extraction permit to extraction of all other groundwater sources in the County not currently defined as basins, but only when groundwater is extracted for use outside of Siskiyou County. This proposed ordinance amendment will also remove a permitting exemption for commercial water bottling enterprises that bottle groundwater in Siskiyou County. A "YES" vote on Measure "H" will authorize the current County ordinance regulating groundwater to be amended as described above. A "NO" vote on Measure "H" will not authorize the above proposed amendment to the current County ordinance regulating groundwater. The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure "H". This analysis is submitted by the Office of the County Counsel of Siskiyou County, pursuant to the requirements of Section 9313 of the Elections Code of the State of California. [2] |
” |
| —Siskiyou County Counsel[1] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[1]
- Angelina Cook
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
| “ |
Water is critical to agriculture, forests, businesses and homes. Essential for life and economy, ensuring that groundwater is available as needed among various users is one of local governments most important responsibilities. The existing groundwater ordinance states that Siskiyou County has a paramount right and duty to govern groundwater resources in order to “protect the health, welfare and safety of the residents”. The code achieves this by requiring that industries exporting water go through a permitting process. Permits reveal who is taking how much water from where. Two loopholes in the ordinance weaken the county’s ability to mange water responsibly:
Without permits, Siskiyou County has no way of knowing if industrial scale waterbottling exports are causing groundwater depletion. Without relevance beyond alluvial basins, the ordinance leaves the majority of our groundwater unprotected and unmonitored. Measure H aims to close those loopholes so that export allocations do not harm other users. Measure H is fair. It does not ban water exports, it just requires that water-bottlers go through the same project review process as other water exporters. And Measure H is sensible. It will help to ensure sustainable water supplies for everyone relying on a well for their water source. In these times of drought and increased competition for water, shouldn’t we position ourselves ahead of foreseeable conflicts? By requiring permits for all water export projects, Siskiyou County can make informed decisions for all who depend on reliable access to groundwater. To protect the rights of all Siskiyou County groundwater users, vote YES on Measure H.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- Grace Bennett, Siskiyou County Board Chair
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
| “ |
The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors is urging voters to vote “NO” on the Measure H, a citizen originated Groundwater Management Initiative (GMI) that seeks to amend existing County Groundwater Management ordinance. The County’s 1998 ordinance is designed to prevent large quantities of water from being transported outside of the County without thorough review and protection of local uses. The ordinance has met the needs of the County for the past eighteen years and has protected groundwater supplies without placing unnecessary burdensome regulations on groundwater users and businesses. The GMI proposes to significantly expand the scope of existing ordinance by including all groundwater and spring water beyond State designated basins. The GMI would require a permit for all groundwater and spring water used outside the County. The initiative also seeks to remove an existing exemption for bottling or transporting bottled water for commercial water bottling enterprises outside of the County. The GMI is subjective and conflicts with existing law creating legal uncertainty, and attempts to include and regulate spring water. Regulation of spring water in this manner exceeds the County’s authority and will give rise to legal challenges. The proposed ordinance attempts to circumvent the state mandated Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) which is intended to provide local agencies with a framework for sustainable management of groundwater supplies by local authorities, with a limited role for state intervention, only if necessary. The GMI proposes to include all groundwater sources without the necessary SGMA studies and will usurp local authority to establish appropriate groundwater basin boundaries. Submitted on behalf of the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors.[2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a successful initiative petition campaign.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Siskiyou County Local water. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Siskiyou County, California, Groundwater Extraction Permits, Measure H (November 2016) - Google News
See also
External links
Footnotes
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