Groundwater continues to be a hot topic in Tehama County

Julie R. Johnson, Corning Observer, Calif.
·3 min read

May 2—As the Tehama County Groundwater Commission and the Tehama County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Board, serving as the Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), continue to work on the county's state-required Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP), it was deemed necessary to form a Demand Management Working Group.

The demand management working group, according to the GSA, will serve in implementing projects and management actions necessary to achieve and maintain sustainable groundwater conditions during the GSP 20 year implementation period.

During the April 24 Tehama County Groundwater Commission meeting, three commissioners, Todd Hamer, Hal Crain, and Michael Ward were appointed to the demand management program working group.

The GSP is the result of the state's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which requires local groundwater sustainability agencies to develop and implement a GSP as a roadmap for how groundwater basins will reach long-term sustainability.

Last year the state completed the initial review of Tehama County's GSP. The state Department of Water Resources determined four groundwater subbasins in the GSP fell under the incomplete category, including Red Bluff, Los Molinos, Corning and Antelope. The GSA was given 180 days to "address the identified deficiencies."

The GSA addressed the state's concerns and resubmitted the GSP on April 22.

Well Mitigation Working Group

Also during the April 24 meeting of the groundwater commission, three members were appointed to the GSA's Well Mitigation Working Group.

Appointed were commissioners Seth Lawrence, Todd Hamer and Martha Slack.

Justin Jenson, Public Works deputy director and GSA executive, said the well mitigation working group will play a role in determining the long-term implications of agriculture and domestic wells on groundwater sustainability in Tehama County, how the county prioritizes well applications, and what activities the district is willing to undertake for mitigation. It is expected the program this group is working on will go into effect January 2026.

Since the start of the GSP process, the county's GSA has been plagued with issues associated with the plan, its development and implications.

In March, the GSA held a public meeting with a goal of answering residents' questions and remediating the rumors running like groundwater through the county. That meeting was both informative and contentious as residents voiced their concerns, many of those concerns based on fear of the unknown and undisclosed.

In January, due to claims of imbalance on the side of agriculture, the district board appointed new groundwater commissioners — District 1 Bart Fleharty, District 2 Andrew Grady, District 3 Seth Lawrence, District 4 Michael Ward, in District 5 David Lester was reappointed, and for the City of Tehama, Hall Crain, a former commissioner, was appointed to a new agency. Continuing appointments included Cody Lamb for Corning, Clay Parker for Red Bluff, Kris Lamkin for the El Camino Irrigation District, Todd Hamer for Los Molinos CSD and Martha Slack for Rio Alto Water District.

The Groundwater Commission includes six members representing municipalities and water agencies, and an appointed representative from each of the five County supervisorial districts, and has advisory responsibilities pertaining to groundwater in the areas covered by the Tehama County Flood Control and Water Conservation District as the Groundwater Sustainability Agency.

In addition, the GSA has come under scrutiny for its Groundwater Sustainability Agency's Well Registration Program.

The 2023 Tehama County Grand Jury in its findings determined the fee assessment of .29 an acre placed on well owners was faulty in the areas of inequitable fees, inadequate communication, accountability and other issues.

Lawsuits have been filed against the Tehama County GSA and its handling of the GSP process.

Attending the last groundwater commission meeting, Corning resident and rancher Shanna Long voiced concern that the county's vital agriculture industry be equally represented on both the well and demand mitigation working groups.

Sue Knox, a member of the Tehama County CattleWomen's Association and Vina rancher, said she has been following the GSP process carefully and has concerns about the GSA's transparency and outcomes.