SB 1640: Assessing our use of water

Last year the Governor vetoed SB 820 (Kuehl), which required increased reporting on surface water and groundwater uses. In his veto message the Governor noted that SB 820 did not provide adequate information for the state to assess groundwater use trends. This year Senator Kuehl returned with SB 1640 (Kuehl), which responded to the Governor’s veto message and included provisions of SB 820 that had been successfully negotiated with agricultural and water interests — apparently to no avail.