Public Invited to Provide Input on Proposed Groundwater Fee
Groundwater is a vital component of our local water supply portfolio, especially as naturally occurring water supplies are drying up due to drought, climate fluctuations and increased competition for all water resources in the state. Locally, the Carpinteria Groundwater Basin is designated as a “high priority Basin” by the California Department of Water Resources under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014.
As a result, the Carpinteria Groundwater Sustainability Agency (CGSA; Agency) was formed in 2020 to ensure long-term sustainable use through monitoring, planning, and oversight of the Carpinteria Groundwater Basin. The Agency is required to develop a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) by 2024 and begin implementation of the GSP thereafter. The Agency currently is operating on loans and cannot continue without establishing a revenue source to support ongoing GSA operations and administration. A rate study to help develop a fair and equitable cost recovery fee for properties that sit atop the basin is in development.
The public is invited to learn more and provide input before the CGSA Board of Directors considers a fee proposal at its public hearing on June 22.
Two community meetings are planned in May and June as noted below.
Community Meeting - Virtual Zoom/Phone
5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 26
Zoom link:
https://bit.ly/3yM0wKf
By phone: (669) 900 6833
Meeting ID: 861 3747 2148
Passcode: 223939
Community Meeting - In Person
5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 14
Lion's Park
6197 Casitas Pass Rd., Carpinteria 93013
Click here to view News Release
Haga clic aquí para ver el comunicado de prensa en español The 2021 WaterWise Garden Recognition Contest launched this spring to recognize beautiful, water-efficient residential gardens throughout Santa Barbara County. The Santa Barbara County Water Agency and participating water providers, including the City of Santa Barbara, Montecito Water District, Carpinteria Valley Water District, and Vandenberg Village Community Services District, encouraged residents to enter the running for an agency award and the countywide grand prize. A winner from each participating water provider’s service areas received an engraved sandstone sign to display in their gardens.
The County grand prize winner was Donna Grubisic of Carpinteria for her beautiful, water-thrifty pollinator garden.
Donna Grubisic of Carpinteria wins county-wide 2021 WaterWise Garden Recognition Contest
Motivated by the 1990s drought, Ms. Grubisic removed her lawn and transformed her yard into a beautiful retreat for pollinators. She and her daughter designed the garden together, focusing on plants that would bring color and attract bees, butterflies, and birds to the front yard. Ms. Grubisic, who has raised monarch butterflies and bees in the past, wanted to create a habitat for these species. The garden is water efficient and has no irrigation system installed; it is hand-watered with a pressure-activated garden nozzle and uses rainwater captured in three 300-gallon cisterns attached to the side of the house. The garden features a downspout redirect into a dry creek bed as well as permeable pavers and walkways. Donna and her daughter continue to maintain the garden together and enjoy finding ways to update its design and colors.
Other finalists for the grand prize and winners in their respective regions were George Hopwood and Joseph Navarro of Santa Barbara, Susan and Howard Silver of Montecito, and Colleen Newkirk of Vandenberg Village. The winning gardens encompassed stunning displays of water-wise and native plants, high-efficiency irrigation and a rain garden demonstration. Photos of each garden can be seen at www.WaterWiseSB.org/GardenContest.
These home gardens demonstrate that water-wise, sustainable landscapes can be lush and colorful, low maintenance, and provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. Many winners replaced their original lawns and now enjoy the added benefit of a lower water bill.
After a dry winter, it is important to recognize residents who are doing their part to be water-wise while maintaining a beautiful garden.
Residents throughout Santa Barbara County can visit www.WaterWiseSB.org to learn about the Garden Contest winners, water-wise gardening, rainwater harvesting, DIY videos and more.
