Liz Writes Life
Sept. 29, 2021
More concern over groundwater wells
I received several phone calls from folks concerned over the
recent new “Emergency Regulation” by the State Water Board that stopped water
use by adjudicated water right allocations on Aug. 30, 2021.
Folks with domestic wells, including non-adjudicated wells,
received a certified letter from the Water Board explaining the “drought
emergency minimum flows” in the Scott and Shasta River watersheds and the need
to report water use and immediate stoppage of using adjudicated water. This is
because the water flows in the Scott and Shasta Rivers are considered much too
low by the Water Board.
After talking with a Water Board staff person and emailing with
another, I learned that you do not have to report water usage and you do not
have to stop using your groundwater well – if it is not adjudicated and you use
a minimum amount. And some domestic adjudicated wells can continue to be used.
Deadline to report was Sept. 24, 2021.
Questions have arisen. One is the need to understand
“adjudication.” Adjudication typically means two or more people argued over
water use and a court decision “decreed” who would receive how much water and
when from a single source. In a differing situation, many groundwater wells
were included in the 1980 Scott River Adjudication. The county or state water
law involving that adjudication process is way beyond my knowledge or
understanding, but it occurred in a Siskiyou County Court.
I talked with Ray Haupt, our Dist. 5 Siskiyou Co. Supervisor
who is also chairman of the board. He said the board discussed the new
“Emergency Regulation” at their Sept. 22, 2021 meeting. The supervisors voted
to send a letter to the Water Board asking for the science behind their minimum
flow requirements on the Scott and Shasta Rivers. Our board is also asking
where and how the state has authority over domestic wells that were permitted
by the county and are not adjudicated.
“The letter caught the public off-guard,” Ray told me, referring
to non-adjudicated well landowners that were fearful and confused by the
(possible) demand to stop using their domestic well. He and the other board
members are also requesting Water Board representatives attend a Siskiyou Board
meeting to discuss these issues regarding this potentially year-long “Emergency
Regulation.” So, we will see what happens next.
In phone calls and emails with the Water Board staff, I
learned that folks whose domestic well has gone dry should report it. There are
grants and resources to help with domestic health and safety due to the drought.
So, I called Bryan Schenone, the director of Siskiyou Co.
Office of Emergency Services, and asked him about reporting dry wells. He said
it helps the county vie for financial help from the state that would directly
aid the domestic well owners. In the past month, only one dry well has been
reported to him. In comparison, Bryan said that Glenn Co. has reported more
than 60 domestic wells going dry and Tehama reported 48 domestic wells going
dry in the last month or so. They will be higher up the totem pole, when asking
for state help.
There are several reasons folks don’t report their well going
dry. One is that they don’t know the county could possibly help with finances
to drill the well deeper or other possibilities. And, there are rumors that
their well will then be in adjudication or metered. Bryan assured me that these
rumors are not true. And, I agree. The wells cannot be adjudicated if they have
not gone through a court system and order. Also, I don’t think domestic wells
are metered in or by Siskiyou County jurisdiction. But, I will check on that
one. Some wells are metered in our local towns and cities, but that is decided
by that city council.
So, if your domestic well has gone dry, at least call Bryan
and discuss the situation and the possibilities of help.
Garden
Oh, it is so nice that autumn is here and the skies have been
pretty clear of smoke since that Sept. 18 and 19th rain! My garden
is winding down. Some of the bush zinnias are already dying, along with bee
balm and the cantaloupe vines are turning yellow – so I picked the last four
good-sized cantaloupes although they really didn’t look ripe. They should be
ripe, because these are an 85-day variety and it has been more than 140 days
since they were planted.
With the cooler nights, I decided to cut the five giant
pumpkins off the vines. These are not extra huge, probably 40 to 50 pounds with
the biggest at maybe 70 pounds. I could barely roll the big one out of the
patch! The side they have been laying on is flat, but two-thirds is orange and
looks like a pumpkin. It was fun growing them and they certainly did put on the
most growth in August.
I’ve been picking ripe tomatoes and need to make several
batches of Green Tomato Sweet Relish. Several tomato plants are already dying
back as well. So, now it is time to start pulling plants out of the garden and
cleaning it up. I tend to procrastinate and not get this done until winter or
spring, but have already started. We will see how well my energy and attention-levels
hold out to get it done!
May peace and calm be with you this week. Smile – just cuz it
makes you feel better!
Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in
newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County. Columns from the past
can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.
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