TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Brian D. Bordona – Director of Planning, Building & Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Patrick Ryan – Assistant Director of Planning, Building & Environmental Services
SUBJECT: 2026 Water Availability Analysis & Supporting Technical Report
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RECOMMENDATION
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Receive a presentation on the 2026 Water Availability Analysis guidelines and Supporting Technical Report; provide feedback and/or direction to staff. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
The Water Availability Analysis document was originally developed in 1991 to fulfill the County’s obligations under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code 21000–21177) and the CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, Sections 15000–15387). Initially, this process was introduced to address drought conditions and declining groundwater levels. For over 30 years, the Water Availability Analysis (WAA) has been used to determine the potential impacts of groundwater extraction on existing groundwater conditions and nearby non-project wells. The WAA also supports groundwater policies in the Napa County General Plan. CEQA requires an environmental analysis of all discretionary permits submitted for review. Under the 2015 WAA, analyses pertaining to potential impacts on surface water and groundwater interaction have also been required.
The Napa County Board of Supervisors (BOS) is committed to preserving groundwater for agricultural and rural residential uses. Through responsible management, conservation, and ongoing stewardship, the County’s groundwater and interconnected surface water resources can be sustained for future generations.
The WAA process has improved understanding of groundwater use countywide and increased awareness of efficient water use and measures to protect these resources. The WAA recognizes each landowner’s correlative right to access and use groundwater beneath their property, provided that use does no...
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