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Kings County Farm Bureau blames one local water board for state intervention; demands heads roll

May 21, 2024

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

The fallout and recriminations in Kings County continue over the state Water Resources Control Board’s historic decision to place the Tulare Lake subbasin on probation for failing to come up with a cohesive plan to protect the region’s groundwater. The Kings County Farm Bureau, which has already sued the Water Board over the probationary designation,…

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MEETING NOTES: Accusations of secrecy, slander and horse “pucky,” pervade high desert groundwater discussions

May 19, 2024

• by Sonia Lemus, freelance for SJV Water

Meeting: Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority board of directors Date: May 15, 2024 Agenda and Packet: CLICK HERE First topic: Reassessment of importing water from Little Lake, an area north of the Indian Wells Valley in Inyo County. Background: The Indian Wells Valley is a critically overdrafted basin in eastern Kern County. Its residents and…

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Sinking land, dry wells and accusations are plentiful in Kings County – but no solutions in sight

May 17, 2024

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

Relations among Kings County groundwater entities have gone from bad to worse after the state put the region on probation for its inability to come up with a cohesive plan to curb furious overpumping that has sunk huge swaths of land, dried up wells and caused other problems. After a burst of collaboration to try…

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Kings County Farm Bureau sues state for placing the region on probation because of groundwater woes

May 17, 2024

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

The Kings County Farm Bureau and two of its farmer members have filed suit against the state Water Resources Control Board, claiming the board exceeded its jurisdiction when it placed the Tulare Lake groundwater subbasin on probation April 16. A writ of mandate was filed May 15 in Kings County Superior Court. A writ is…

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Report shows inflation has boosted the delta tunnel cost to $20 billion – or more

May 17, 2024

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

The controversial Delta Conveyance Project will cost $20.1 billion according to a new cost-benefit analysis released by the state on Thursday. That’s up from the previous cost projection of $16 billion. Almost all of that increase is because of inflation, said David Sunding, emeritus professor at UC Berkeley, who led the benefit-cost analysis, in a…

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MEETING NOTES: More Kern water districts approve new groundwater plan in hopes of avoiding state intervention

May 17, 2024

• by Sonia Lemus, freelance for SJV Water

Meetings: Arvin-Edison board of directors Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa board of directors Shafter – Wasco Irrigation District Board of Directors Date: May 14 through 15, 2024 Arvin-Edison Water Storage District Agenda: CLICK HERE Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Packet: CLICK HERE Shafter-Wasco Agenda: CLICK HERE Major topic: Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Water Storage District, Arvin-Edison Water Storage District, and Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District…

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Fresno water district plans to use a $5 million federal grant to sink more water

May 17, 2024

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Fresno Irrigation District (FID) received $5 million from the federal government for recharge projects. It’s the largest grant FID has ever received and staff were overjoyed when they heard the news. “We were elated,” said Bill Stretch, general manager of FID. “That’s a huge shot in the arm for the district. And it helps us…

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Kern agencies prepare to submit third groundwater plan in hopes it’s the charm that wards off state pumping takeover

May 10, 2024

• by Lois Henry

In an effort to avoid the fate of their neighbors to the north, Kern County water managers are putting the finishing touches on a new groundwater plan they hope will stave off probation in order to keep state bureaucrats from taking over local pumping. The county’s 20 groundwater agency boards began approving final changes to…

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Kern River combatants sent to their respective corners – for now

May 9, 2024

• by Lois Henry

Further legal action on the Kern River was put on pause Thursday morning following an order by the 5th District Court of Appeal that stayed a local injunction mandating enough water be kept in the river for fish. Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp said the 5th District’s order that stayed his earlier injunction…

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Third San Joaquin Valley groundwater basin recommended for state probation

May 7, 2024

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

Subsidence has reared its head again as a key factor cited by state Water Resources Control Board staff for recommending that the Kaweah groundwater subbasin be placed on probation – the first step toward possible state takeover of groundwater pumping. The recommendation was contained in a draft report released May 6, which set Nov. 5…

NEWS

Kings County Farm Bureau blames one local water board for state intervention; demands heads roll

MEETING NOTES: Accusations of secrecy, slander and horse “pucky,” pervade high desert groundwater discussions

Sinking land, dry wells and accusations are plentiful in Kings County – but no solutions in sight

Kings County Farm Bureau sues state for placing the region on probation because of groundwater woes

Report shows inflation has boosted the delta tunnel cost to $20 billion – or more

MEETING NOTES: More Kern water districts approve new groundwater plan in hopes of avoiding state intervention

Fresno water district plans to use a $5 million federal grant to sink more water

Kern agencies prepare to submit third groundwater plan in hopes it’s the charm that wards off state pumping takeover

Kern River combatants sent to their respective corners – for now

Third San Joaquin Valley groundwater basin recommended for state probation

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