Definitions
Terms and definitions for the Fallow Land Registry.
A
Agricultural Offset Ordinance
County Code section 22.30.204 as it may be amended from time to time.
B
Basin
The Paso Robles Area Groundwater Subbasin, DWR Basin No. 3-004.06 as its boundaries may be modified from time to time in accordance with Water Code section 10722.2.
C
Consumptive Water Use
Consumptive water use for all commercially irrigated crops within a farming unit, to be calculated as an average of the three (3) highest annual consumptive water use values within the previous five (5) years based on satellite-based ET data, or other verifiable data source as authorized by the Groundwater Sustainability Director or designee.
E
Evapotranspiration
The combined process of water evaporation from soil and plant surfaces and transpiration from plants, representing the total water loss from a given area.
F
Fallowed Area
Area within a farming unit designated by the landowner(s) to be fallowed land for a specified period of time.
Fallowed Land
Land previously irrigated for commercial crop production using groundwater from the Basin or from the additional areas subject to the Agricultural Offset Ordinance that has voluntarily ceased using groundwater from the Basin or said additional areas for commercial crop irrigation with the exception of supplemental irrigation for dry farmed crops, subject to request by the farming unit administrator and authorization by the Groundwater Sustainability Director during drought years.
Farming Unit
Contiguous or semi-contiguous parcels under the same ownership, or with the contiguous/semi-contiguous owners' written consent, in active agricultural operation managed as a single irrigated farming operation with a fallowed area of at least two (2) acres.
Farming Unit Administrator
Person authorized by all farming unit landowners to submit an enrollment application and maintain up-to-date information in the Registry.
Field
An agricultural field delineated by satellite-based ET data, or an alternative method that is subject to the approval of the Groundwater Sustainability Director.
P
Parcel
i. A parcel of real property shown on a subdivision or plat map, required by the Subdivision Map Act (or local ordinance adopted pursuant thereto) to be recorded before sale of parcels shown on the map or plat, at the time the map was recorded;
ii. A parcel of real property that has been issued a certificate of compliance in compliance with Government Code section 66499.35; or
iii. A parcel of real property not described in i. or ii. above, provided the parcel resulted from a separate conveyance or from a decree of a court of competent jurisdiction which was recorded before the requirement of the filing of the subdivision map by the Subdivision Map Act or local ordinance adopted pursuant thereto.
W
Water Neutrality Benchmark
Consumptive water use for all commercially irrigated crops within a farming unit as evaluated at the time of enrollment in the Registry, to be calculated as an average of the three (3) highest annual consumptive water use values within the five (5) years preceding the application date based on satellite-based ET data, or other verifiable data source as authorized by the Groundwater Sustainability Director or designee, in addition to any increase in consumptive water use allowed by an Agricultural Offset Clearance or Exemption issued by the County.
Williamson Act/Land Conservation Contract
Contract entered into in accordance with the provisions of the Land Conservation Act of 1965 ("Williamson Act") and the County's Rules of Procedure for Implementing the Williamson Act.