FRESNO (KMJ) — A working group to help protect the groundwater we still have is being put together by Fresno and Madera Counties.
Groundwater is disappearing at an alarming rate and work is being done to make sure the resource isn't completely drained.
"It's not will they – it's they will – because that's the law", says Sarge Green with Fresno State's California Water Institute. "Sustainable Groundwater Management Act will get us to sustainable groundwater eventually".
He says plans to create a ten member working group with representatives from across the valley will have to fix the problem.
"We have to figure out a way to satisfy the needs of the small rural communities and citizens who need drinking water".
But there'll only be ten positions available – for the 50 stakeholders affected in both Fresno and Madera counties.
"Everbody has said we need to have a fully representative group to make sure that it covers everybody. While we may only have ten members on the steering committee – it's open to everybody else"
"They can show up and participate and I certainly recommend that they do so".
It's all part of Sacramento's 'Sustainable Groundwater Management Act' – passed at the end of 2014. Officials with Fresno Country have been given two weeks to prepare the first list of names.
