Between 1990 and 2014, the wine grape acreage in Paso Robles' growing region increased dramatically to 37,408 acres as vintners realized the area's ideal conditions for producing rich, flavorful red wines. Wines from Paso Robles have gained international recognition, similar to Napa and Sonoma. However, the ongoing drought in California has severely impacted the region, leading to decreased grape yields and depletion of the aquifer that residents and vineyards depend on for water. Many wells in the area have dried up as a result. Individuals and businesses in Paso Robles, including major wineries and growers, have been drilling deeper wells to access water, sparking conflicts and raising concerns about the sustainability of the region's wine industry. Unlike other states that regulate and monitor groundwater as a shared resource, California's historical rules allow property owners to extract unlimited amounts of water through private wells. This has led to a situation where those with the deepest wells have the greatest access to water, resulting in declining water levels for some, such as Cam Berlogar in Creston. Richard Sauret, known for his award-winning Zinfandel grapes, strolls through his Paso Robles vineyard in California, where he uses minimal water for irrigation. Despite a moratorium on new water-dependent projects in San Luis Obispo County in response to the water crisis, Sauret's existing vineyard has been able to expand. He remains concerned about the sustainability of the aquifer from which he pumps water for irrigation. Sauret expressed concern about the high demand for water, attributing it to vineyards and other factors. He noted that many farmers will need to adjust to farming with less water. Change is on the horizon as Governor Jerry Brown signed bills last year mandating groundwater-dependent areas to create local water sustainability agencies by 2017. These agencies will have several years to develop and implement water management plans. Some Paso Robles residents are concerned about the depletion of the aquifer and fear that waiting too long to address this issue could have serious consequences. One report projected that, even without any additional growth, the water drawn from the basin would exceed the amount replenished by 1.8 billion gallons annually between 2012 and 2040. Hilary Graves, a fourth-generation farmer and winemaker, worries that if the situation is not managed properly within the next 10 years, it may become irreversible. Graves hopes to avoid having to relive her family's history of losing everything during the Dust Bowl and having to return to Oklahoma and Arkansas. Residents are in disagreement on how to address the water crisis, with county supervisors voting to create a new water district governed by an elected nine-member board. Some fear that newcomers with more resources will influence the board to pass infrastructure projects that benefit them at the expense of local landowners. Susan Harvey from North County Watch described the proposed district as "we pay, they pump." The citizens are particularly worried about wealthy and influential newcomers, such as Harvard University and the Resnick family, who have made significant investments in land in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The Resnicks, known for their brands FIJI Water and Wonderful, purchased Justin Vineyards & Winery in 2010 and later bought a ranch that was previously dry-farmed. Some vineyards have been replanted with water-efficient grapes, and the company plans to eventually switch to dry farming. Harvard and the Resnicks did not provide comments for this story. Fifth-generation farmer Cindy Steinbeck, who co-founded Protect Our Water Rights (POWR), is doubtful about a new water agency and has concerns about the region's water issues. Her organization is encouraging landowners to participate in a quiet title action to safeguard their water rights, and prefers to have the courts oversee any efforts to manage the water in the basin. Steinbeck stated that they are challenging powerful entities in order to prevent family farmers from being forced out of Paso Robles. Jay Famiglietti, a senior water scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, noted that Paso Robles could serve as a model for other groundwater basins under stress. The Paso Robles Agricultural Alliance for Groundwater Solutions, with board members from J Lohr Vineyards & Wines and Harvard's property interests, has been instrumental in these efforts. Other backers of the district include Justin Vineyards and County Supervisor Frank Mecham, who supported the creation of the new agency. Mecham acknowledges the concerns of residents but also recognizes the importance of water management. He has a personal connection to the issue, as his ancestor lost a cattle ranch to a drought in the past. Mecham emphasizes the unavoidable need for management and advises residents to choose how they want to be managed. Richard Sauret strolls through his vineyard in Paso Robles, California on April 20, 2015, explaining that he uses minimal water for irrigation. Reuters documented Sauret showcasing the irrigation system in his vineyard on the same date.