Judge's Order Allows Sonoma County To Temporarily Resume Well Permits

SONOMA COUNTY, CA ? Permit Sonoma resumed issuing non-emergency well permits this week after a Sonoma County Superior Court judge temporarily lifted a previous court order that halted the process, the county announced Friday.

Permit Sonoma, the county's permitting department, was ordered Dec. 17 to stop issuing well permits because of an environmental lawsuit filed against the county by Russian Riverkeeper and California Coastkeeper.

The suit was filed in May 2023 and challenged updates to the county's process for issuing well permits, claiming the newly adopted well ordinance did not properly protect the creeks and rivers of Sonoma County.

A judge issued a temporary stay Tuesday that allowed Permit Sonoma to resume issuing well permits under the amended ordinance.

"We welcome the judge?s decision and have resumed issuing non-emergency well permits," said Tennis Wick, director of Permit Sonoma. "We will continue to use scientific data to guide decision making and support the County?s defense of the amended well ordinance, which balances public trust resources and property rights."

The county said it requested a new trial, but on Friday, its request was denied by the court. As a result, the county expects the temporary stay to be lifted Feb. 21 unless the court moves to extend it.

However, according to California Coastkeeper, "The judge did not decide to lift the previous order stopping well permits ? it was an agreement we made with the County."

"We agreed to a stipulation with the County that would allow them to continue issuing permits until two weeks after their motion for a new trial was decided," Executive Director Sean Bothwell wrote in an email to Patch. "The purpose of the temporary stay is to allow for orderly proceedings and permit the County time necessary to formally seek a stay from the Court, which it still has not done."

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