The city of Paso Robles joined a countywide effort to create an agency that could charge fees for pumping water out of the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, despite public outcry during a fiery City Council meeting Tuesday night. The approved agreement paves the way for sustainable and collaborative management of the basin, which was determined by the California Department of Water Resources to be in “critical overdraft,” according to Paso Robles public works director Christopher Alakel. Annually, pumpers use around 13,700 acre-feet more water than is returned to the basin each year. … But dozens of community members voiced opposition to the decision — with some going as far as alleging that Paso Robles staff and officials were siding with special interests to take away their constitutional water rights.

Other groundwater news:

• SJV Water: Kings County Water District wants to mend fences with groundwater agency it imploded last year
• SJV Water: Fresno County’s Pleasant Valley heads to state Water Board for possible intervention
• California Department of Water Resources: News release: DWR celebrates Groundwater Awareness Week!​
• Valley Water News: News release: Groundwater Awareness Week is here!
• USDA: News release: Groundwater: It’s at the root of safe water consumption