20-Day Public Review and Appeals Process Begins Landowners Are Encouraged to Review Groundwater Use Data

May 27 Board Vote and Public Meeting

June 8 Deadline to Submit Appeals

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (May 8, 2026) — The Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority (PRAGA) released its Draft Rate & Fee Study Report and officially opened a formal public review and appeals process for its proposed Fiscal Year 2026–2027 groundwater fee program. The draft report lays out the technical and legal foundation for a fee structure designed to fund PRAGA’s state-mandated groundwater sustainability work under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).

Two key dates landowners should be aware: 1) Wednesday, May 27 the PRAGA Board of Directors will hold a public meeting to consider adopting a resolution to set the groundwater fee and place charges on the County tax roll, and 2) Monday, June 8 is the deadline to submit appeals.

“Releasing this draft report is a critical step in our commitment to transparency and community engagement,” said Matt Turrentine, Board Chairman. “We are asking landowners to review their water use data and use the appeals process to address any inaccuracies. This process exists to make sure the fee, if adopted, is accurate and fair for everyone in the basin.”

20-Day Public Review and Appeals Process

Beginning today, PRAGA is providing a 20-day public review window during which landowners may examine the Water Year 2025 consumed groundwater use data that forms the basis of the proposed fee. Property owners who believe their data contains an inaccuracy are encouraged to submit a formal appeal by June 8, 2026.

Appeals may be submitted via email to info@PasoRoblesAGA.org or by mail to PO Box 82, Paso Robles, CA 93447. Successful appeals will require evidence-based documentation, such as flow meter records, electric bills for pumps, crop yield records, or documentation of alternative water supplies. A full list of supporting documentation examples is provided in the appeals notice available on the PRAGA website.

The proposed fee is authorized under California Water Code Section 10730 and will be calculated based on consumed (net) groundwater use for Water Year 2025 (October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025). If adopted by the Board, the fee will fund PRAGA’s approved FY 2026–2027 budget of $1,095,446 — covering groundwater monitoring, compliance activities, reporting requirements, and program administration necessary to keep the Paso Robles Subbasin on track toward the SGMA-mandated 2040 sustainability deadline.

About the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority (PRAGA)

The Paso Robles Area Groundwater Authority (PRAGA) is a Joint Powers Authority formed to lead sustainable management of the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin in compliance with California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). PRAGA is comprised of four member agencies: the City of Paso Robles, the County of San Luis Obispo, the Shandon-San Juan Water District, and the Estrella-El Pomar-Creston Water District. PRAGA is required to bring the critically overdrafted basin into balance by 2040. For more information, visit www.PasoRoblesAGA.org.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Stacie Jacob

sjacob@solterrastrategies.com

805-591-4884