Well Verification

Administrative Policy

The SABGSA Well Verification Policy, cotified by Resolution No. 22-001, was established to implement the new written verification requirements in Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-7-22 and the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Urgency Ordinance No. 5158 (County Urgency Ordinance) within the San Antonio Creek Valley Groundwater Basin (Basin). Read Resolution 22-001.

New Wells and Alteration of Existing Wells: SABGSA has determined through Resolution No. 22-001 that it cannot issue a Well Verification for a New Well or Alteration of an Existing Well until the Executive Order and County Urgency Ordinance have been rescinded (1) due to the drought conditions experienced throughout the region and (2) because both a New Well and Alternation of an Existing Well would result in additional groundwater extraction from the Basin above the baseline extraction amounts. The Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) documents that the Basin is experiencing chronic lowering of groundwater levels and a reduction in ground water in storage such that New Wells or Alteration of an Existing Wells would be inconsistent with the GSP. The Basin’s water budget, documented in the GSP, indicates that the annual volume of groundwater extracted from the Basin (by pumping) has historically been greater than the Basin’s sustainable yield (the average annual change in groundwater in storage during the Basin’s historical water budget period [1981-2018] was a decrease of 10,600 acre-feet) as defined in the GSP. Therefore, a New Well or an Alteration of an Existing Well would result in additional groundwater extraction from the Basin above the baseline extraction amounts considered in the Plan and contribute to chronic lowering of groundwater levels and a reduction in groundwater storage in the Basin.

Replacement Wells: SABGSA staff and/or consultants shall conduct a preliminary review of a Well Verification Request to determine whether it seeks a Well Verification for a Replacement Well (as defined in Section 34A-23(a)(8) of the County Urgency Ordinance). A Well Verification Request for a Replacement Well may be approved by the Agency’s Executive Director if the Replacement Well satisfies the criteria in Section 4.d of this resolution.

Modified Wells: SABGSA staff or consultants shall conduct a preliminary review of a Well Verification Request to determine whether it seeks a Well Verification for a Modified Well. “Modified Well” means a Modification (as defined in Section 34A-2(b)(3) of the County Code) of an existing well that increases the production capacity of an existing well to a capacity less than or equal to the capacity of the existing well as originally permitted or constructed. A Well Verification Request for Modified Well may be approved by the Agency’s Executive Director if the Modified Well Modification satisfies the criteria in Section 4.d of this resolution.

What Information is Required by the SABGSA?

The information required by the SABGSA to issue a consistency determination is outlined in the Request Form and Agreement. Please sign and return the agreement to the SABGSA along with all supporting documentation. View Request Form and Agreement.

How Much Does It Cost for SABGSA to Review?

Within three (3) business days following execution of this Agreement, Requestor shall provide to SABGSA an initial deposit of nine hundred and eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents ($987.50) (“Initial Deposit”) to reimburse the Agency for Eligible Expenses, as defined in Section 2(b). View Request Fee and Deposit Agreement.

DWR Publication – Groundwater Well Permitting
Observations and Analysis of Executive Orders N-7-22 and N-3-23

In March 2024, the DWR released the following report summarizing various approaches taken by local agencies to comply with the Executive Orders, observations of groundwater conditions that occurred while these actions were taken, and policy recommendations that can be used to develop future solutions to align land use planning, well permitting, and groundwater management and use.
Read Report