Supes weigh well permitting amid drought
Despite recent rains, severe to extreme drought conditions persist throughout Humboldt County. During the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, the county drought task force shared an update on local conditions and initiatives aimed at mitigating drought impacts.
One of the main concerns brought up in previous drought-related discussions was permitting standards for water wells. The county recently entered into a contract with Eureka-based engineering firm LACO Associates to provide hydro-geologic consulting services to provide the following: • “Guidelines for approving low-impact wells and sitespecific testing requirements for wells anticipated to have a higher impact, • Database of existing well permits for use in countywide studies and development of permanent standards • A decision matrix to determine whether wells are likely to fall into a high impact category or a low impact category with an appropriate set of protocols for each,” according to the staff report.
County Environmental Health specialist Mario Kalson said the task force had also partnered with Sanctuary Forest for a community water efficiency workshop on Sept. 28.
Turning to questions from the board, 2nd District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell asked why an attached letter from Arcata hydrologist Randy Klein hyperfocused on water use as it relates to cannabis cultivators.
“I have been contacted by landowners concerned about new water wells being installed by their neighbors for commercial cannabis farms,” Klein’s letter stated. “They worry that the new wells will reduce their water supplies during the dry season and that the county’s permitting process may not recognize this distinct possibility. Their worries may be well justified, but without intensive study, no one can say for sure, not the permit seeker, the well driller, or those that may suffer from the new groundwater extractions. Yet the county seems poised to approve new or expanding grows with industrial-sized water needs in a vacuum of factual information.”
Bushnell asked county Planning and Building Director John Ford to clarify if the discussion surrounding drought, wells and agriculture was general or specific to one entity.
“When looking at well regulations, that is correct,” Ford said.
Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson said he has heard concerns from constituents regarding the uptick in well permits for cannabis cultivators.
“I would imagine that the (proposed) locations near where other people already have domestic uses create a lot of anxiety and that anxiety is translated in these concerns related around a specific industry,” he said. “I’m sure you’ve had those conversations, too, Supervisor Bushnell, with folks. There are more straws in the ground and for one particular use, for sure. There is a lot of interest in this particular industry because it’s newer and coming on strong, or so people feel.”
Bushnell argued that the “newness of an industry does not mean we get to pick on them.”
“I think that we need to look at all industries that use water,” she said. “Not that I want any business to be without water, but especially in this discussion as the drought task force, it’s not okay to pick out one industry when we’re considering water usage during a drought.”
Wilson pushed back, noting that while he agreed with Bushnell “on one part of that,” the majority of new well permit applicants are coming from one industry.
“I would agree with you that we cover everybody under this but it’s the newness and the volume, at least perceived, that draws focus,” he said. “I empathize with you wanting to cover everything but understand that a lot of folks in the community need some more education on where the wells are and what those impacts are.”
Bushnell ended the back and forth by agreed “that more wells going in are for cannabis industries” but said she was obliged to voice the concerns in her district.
Later in the discussion, Wilson asked Ford how staff would prioritize permits for non-agricultural applicants.
“For example, there’s a cannabis proposal in my district,” Wilson said. “Assuming that wasn’t a cannabis proposal and it was a 10,000 square foot McMansion with three acres of vineyards, grounds and a pool … where’s the balance in terms of where will be considered for wells and how would we analyze that in an equitable way?”
Ford admitted that he did not have a clear answer but noted that water use for a 10,000-square-foot home “is somewhat akin” to the same square footage of cannabis.
“Depending on where we’re taking water from, if it’s from a location that has a very sensitive groundwater resource then we would review it very critically, but if it’s in a location where the groundwater recharge emerges very fast and has a large supply that is not going to deplete within a season or two or three or four, then it probably isn’t as great of a concern,” Ford said. “… One of the things we are bringing forward is drought-tolerant landscaping regulations. Rules are being written so in situations where you have larger estate-style homes, that would be covered.”
The board did not take any action on the item and ultimately agreed to accept staff’s report in a 5-0 vote following public comment.