SB 1317 Summary

• Requires cities and counties overlying high- or medium-priority groundwater basins to establish a groundwater extraction permit process by January 1, 2018 that prevents new facilities from contributing to or creating undesirable results.

• Prohibits new groundwater extraction permits in probationary basins and basins designated as subject to critical conditions of overdraft, with limited exceptions.

• Exempts de minimis extractors, replacement facilities with equal or lesser capacity, public drinking water systems, habitat conservation projects, photovoltaic/wind facilities using less than 75 acre-feet annually, and conjunctive use programs from permit requirements.

• Terminates the permit requirement on January 31, 2022, or once the Department of Water Resources approves a groundwater sustainability plan as adequate for the basin, whichever occurs first.

• Exempts adjudicated groundwater basins, special act water districts, and Napa County (if its existing groundwater conservation ordinance remains in effect) from this article's requirements.