English | Español

Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin-in Instagram
Login
Donate
Search

NEWS

A Tulare County groundwater agency on the hot seat for helping sink the Friant-Kern Canal holds private tours for state regulators

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water
As the date of reckoning for excessive groundwater pumping in Tulare County grows closer, lobbying by water managers and growers has ramped up. The Friant Water Authority, desperate to protect its newly rebuilt –  yet still sinking – Friant-Kern Canal, has beseeched the Water Resources Control Board to get involved. Specifically, it has asked board…
Read More

MEETING NOTES: North Kern approves eminent domain to build new water recharge facility

• by Sonia Lemus, freelance for SJV Water
Meeting: North Kern Water Storage District board of directors. Date: March 19, 2024 Agenda and board packet: CLICK HERE Background: North Kern, which stretches along Highway 99 from Bakersfield to near McFarland, annexed an area known as the “Rosedale Ranch Improvement District (RRID)” in 1966. That chunk of land is generally bounded by Allen and…
Read More

How a state-funded drought program was converted to help farmers take on flood water and permanently cut groundwater pumping

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water
When farmers fallowed thousands of acres during the recent drought, most didn’t expect they would be flooding those lands months later. But that’s what happened during last year’s historic floods after the state adapted LandFlex, a drought program, to take on some of the deluge from valley rivers.  “Our original intent with fallow land was…
Read More

MEETING NOTES: Desert groundwater agency approves bids for initial work on a 50-mile pipeline to import water

• by Sonia Lemus, freelance for SJV Water
* “Meeting Notes” is a new feature focused on Kern County water districts, funded through a grant from the James B. McClatchy Foundation. Please consider supporting SJV Water to continue this important coverage. Meeting: Indian WellsValley Groundwater Authority board of directors Date: January 10, 2024 Agenda and Packet: CLICK HERE Major topics: Imported Water Pipeline…
Read More

“Surprised and overjoyed” groundwater managers in Madera rejoice at state’s approval of their plan to stabilize the region’s aquifer

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water
The Madera subbasin’s groundwater plan was approved by the state on Thursday much to the surprise of water managers and others throughout the valley. It was an unexpected win for groundwater agencies in light of the state’s rejection of six other San Joaquin Valley plans, which has put those subbasins on a trajectory for possible…
Read More

Tulare County land trust embarks on projects to protect groundwater and farming

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water
A unique land trust in southwestern Tulare County that aims to preserve farming by strategically fallowing land for habitat is moving forward on several projects. The Tule Basin Land & Water Conservation Trust was formed in 2020 by area farmers and water managers intent on finding solutions to the region’s groundwater woes that didn’t include…
Read More
Receive the latest news

Don't miss a drop of water news!

Sign up to get our weekly newsletter ‘The Splash’, plus instant news alerts directly to your inbox.