California groundwater law stirs debate
By Amy Quinton, Capital Public Radio
Two years ago, California became one of the last states in the West to pass a law to manage groundwater. The political will to do so took decades. But the bigger battle may be putting the law into practice.
Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo County may be a perfect example of how hard it’s going to be.
The region is known mostly for it’s more than 200 wineries. But amidst the rolling hills full of vineyards, it’s not unusual to see tanker trucks delivering water to rural homeowners whose wells have run dry.
Stephen Johansen with Crocker Water is filling storage tanks for one rural homeowner. He says business is booming.
Right next door, Sue Luft, a retired environmental engineer, started to see her well fail before the drought even started.
