Introduced in both the Assembly and the Senate, and referred to the Committee on Environment and Forestry in the Assembly, and the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy in the Senate
The bill establishes standards for designating areas as "groundwater management areas", depending on the type of aquifer and numerous other scientific factors, such as pumping levels and reductions in stream flows. After the groundwater management areas have been designated, the DNR must come up with a scientific management plan so that the area can recover to the point where it is no longer considered a management area by the target date set in the plan. These plans must contain measurable goals, reporting requirements, and water conservation measures. The bill also established a groundwater area review subcommittee of the existing Groundwater Coordinating Council, which will handle the recommendations to the DNR for establishing groundwater management areas, as well as rescinding them. Finally, the bill also amends the high-capacity well permitting process to make it more public and stringent, and to increase the fees for overpumping.