1. Draft Water Availability Analysis (WAA) Update Released — Proposed Changes to Groundwater Use Criteria for Napa Valley Floor The county released a public draft of the 2026 WAA on March 27, which proposes increasing the Tier 1 water use criterion on the Napa Valley floor from 0.3 acre-feet per acre to 0.5 acre-feet per acre for new and replacement wells and new projects. The Northeast Napa Management Area remains at 0.3 acre-feet per acre due to declining groundwater trends and unique geology. Properties with existing legal uses already exceeding these thresholds can maintain current extraction levels but cannot increase them ("no net increase" policy). The 60-day public comment period runs through May 26, 2026, and a second public hearing is scheduled at the Planning Commission on May 6, 2026. The public is encouraged to review and submit comments.
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