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Napa Valley’s already-struggling wine industry is being slapped with a new groundwater bill as county officials scramble to meet California’s state-mandated sustainability goals.
Even grape growers who don’t pump groundwater will have to cough up $17.53 for every planted acre under proposed fees for the 2026-27 fiscal year, the Napa Valley Register reported.
Those who actually use groundwater for irrigation face another $26.91 per acre, taking their total hit to $44.44.
County officials argue that even growers who dry-farm or use surface or recycled water benefit from having groundwater available, according to the outlet.
The new charges will help fund the Napa County Groundwater Sustainability Agency, which California requires to meet sustainability goals for the aquifer running beneath the valley from Calistoga to south of Napa.
And while the rates are less than half the maximum amounts initially feared, wine industry leaders have warned that any new expense comes at a brutal time for the region’s wineries and growers.
“To have this fee come now is very difficult for our members and our industry to weather,” Napa Valley Vintners’ Michelle Novi told supervisors in June.
The county has been spending about $2 million a year in general fund cash on the groundwater agency but has slashed that contribution to $500,000 this fiscal year.
The rest of the agency’s operating budget will be covered through the new fees and its savings.
Rural homeowners and businesses with wells will also be charged $28.17 per parcel, while public water systems face a $58.47-per-acre-foot fee, per the Register.
Supervisors agreed in June to dip into agency savings to soften the first-year blow after hearing the industry’s concerns.
The board could approve the new rates Tuesday, with groundwater users ultimately seeing the charges appear on their property tax bills.
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