Now Accepting Applications for the Agricultural Director and Alternate Director Positions on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Management Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency (Santa Ynez Water Group)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Now Accepting Applications for the Agricultural Director and Alternate Director Positions on the

Board of Directors for the Eastern Management Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency

Effective July 16, 2024, the Santa Ynez River Conservation District, the Santa Ynez River Conservation District Improvement District No.1, the Santa Barbara County Water Agency, and the City of Solvang approved and adopted a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) forming the Eastern Management Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency (EMA GSA). Among other things, the JPA calls for a five-member Board of Directors (Board) consisting of one representative from each of the public agencies mentioned above and one representative from the agricultural community at-large. The JPA provides for the Santa Ynez Water Group, a nonprofit entity representing landowners, farmers, and ranchers who rely on groundwater within the Santa Ynez River Groundwater Basin, to solicit applications and submit nominations to the Board for the Agricultural Director and Alternate Director positions. Appointment decisions are made by the directors representing the four public agencies of the JPA.

The purpose of this press release is to inform the public that the Santa Ynez Water Group is now accepting applications for the Agricultural Director and Alternate Director positions on the EMA GSA’s Board. According to the JPA, to qualify as a candidate for the position, you must:

• Be an owner or representative of an owner of property located within the boundaries of the EMA GSA and involved in Commercial Agriculture (as defined in the JPA), and which produces at least 2 acre-feet per year of groundwater from within the boundaries of the EMA GSA to support Commercial Agriculture on said property.
• Be a resident and registered voter within the boundaries of the EMA GSA.
• Not be party to any pending litigation against the EMA GSA, other than as a party to a groundwater rights adjudication affecting the EMA GSA (no such adjudication is pending).

Please be aware that the Agricultural Director and Alternate Director positions on the JPA Board are public official designations, where individuals appointed to these positions are subject to the requirements of the Fair Political Practices Act, Public Records Act, Brown Act, and other applicable public laws and regulations.  If you are interested in applying for the Agricultural Director and/or Alternate Director position, please email santaynezwatergroup@gmail.com to receive an application. All applications must be completed and submitted to the Santa Ynez Water Group by 5:00 PM PST on October 30, 2026.