1. Proposed Relief for Small-Volume Well Operators on Meter Testing Requirements
The board discussed amending Ordinance No. 4 to exempt smaller groundwater users from the five-year flowmeter accuracy testing requirement. Wells pumping between 2–10 acre-feet per year (11 wells total representing only 1% of basin pumping) could be exempted from the current requirement to pay approximately $300 every five years for accuracy testing, pending a future ordinance amendment. The executive director argued that the cost of enforcing compliance exceeds the value of the data collected, and even if these meters were significantly inaccurate, the fiscal impact would only be about $1,000 annually. The board expressed support for this change, with one agricultural director noting the requirement seemed "onerous for a small user." An ordinance amendment will be drafted and brought back to the board for consideration in coming months.
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