Article I — DECLARATION OF FINDINGS AND PURPOSE

The Board hereby finds and declares:

with water for agricultural, domestic, municipal and other purposes.

appropriated from a groundwater basin if the groundwater supply is surplus and exceeds the reasonable and beneficial needs of overlying users.

public benefit of the State, that groundwater resources of Lake County be protected from harm resulting from the extraction of groundwater for use on lands or for any other purpose outside the County, until such time as needed additional surface water supplies are obtained for use on lands of the County, or overdrafting of groundwater is alleviated, to the satisfaction of the Board.

(Ord. No. 2696, § 1, 8-17-2004)

nut, fruit and field crops which contribute significantly to the gross value of all agricultural crops produced in the County, estimated at nearly fifty-four million dollars ($54,000,000.00) in 1997.

particularly to Upper Lake, Lakeport, Kelseyville, Cobb, Lower Lake, Middletown and Hidden Valley Lakes.

The present

population of the County is nearly fifty-six thousand (56,000) and is projected to increase to ninety-nine thousand six hundred (99,600) by the year 2020. Groundwater resources will serve as an important source of water supply to this increased population.

groundwater. Decline in availability of groundwater would result in extraordinary needs placed on the local groundwater user. It is vital that the groundwater be protected so that it will be available for present and future land use.

(Ord. No. 2696, § 2, 8-17-2004)

the County. The plan recognizes the need to significantly utilize groundwater resources to meet seasonal water supply demands. During drought years, groundwater demand requirements cannot be met by groundwater supplies.

(Ord. No. 2696, § 3, 8-17-2004)

area and Big Valley as a result of overdrafting of groundwater.

overdraft-related environmental, social, and economic impacts. It is therefore essential for the protection of

the County's important groundwater resources that the County requires a Permit to extract or otherwise capture groundwater for any use outside the County. This chapter requires a Permit for the export and use of groundwater outside the County and is not intended to regulate groundwater in any other way.

(Ord. No. 2696, § 4, 8-17-2004)

entities in managing groundwater under the Groundwater Management Act and any other applicable laws.

(Ord. No. 2457, § 1, 2-9-99)