HB 2731 Summary: Local Groundwater Stewardship Areas

• Establishes a new framework for counties to designate "local groundwater stewardship areas" in regions outside active management areas where groundwater conditions warrant coordinated management.

• Creates local groundwater stewardship area councils with representatives from counties, municipalities, agricultural, industrial, and residential water users to develop and implement management plans with locally-tailored goals and actions.

• Dedicates $50 million annually from the state lottery fund to a new Department of Water Resources Local Groundwater Stewardship Fund to support implementation of these areas and voluntary land and water conservation programs.

• Allows local councils to petition the director of water resources to implement specific management tools including water measuring device requirements, groundwater withdrawal permits for new industrial wells, subsequent irrigation non-expansion areas, and conservation programs.

• Integrates local groundwater stewardship area management goals into county comprehensive plans and municipal general plans, with provisions allowing counties to delay active management area designations for ten years if a local management plan is adopted.