central valley Archives - Page 15 of 27

From bulldozers to helicopters, Boswell-Vidovich battles continue

March 22, 2022

• by Lois Henry

An ongoing tiff over construction of a large water pipeline in Kings County has gone airborne, according to a lawsuit filed by Sandridge Partners. Sandridge, controlled by John Vidovich, is accusing the J.G. Boswell Company of purposely “buzzing” cattle on its lands using a large helicopter. The actions have been ongoing since late January through…

Groundwater

Deadline to apply for $50M to retire farmland coming up April 1

March 15, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

The state has $50 million to spend to retire farmland, which it intends to give out as block grants to local agencies, tribes and nonprofits in the San Joaquin Valley. But there are strings attached to the money. The groups that receive the block grants will have to work directly with farmers and community members…

Groundwater

Westlands growers fear groundwater power grab by district general manager

March 15, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Divisions are deepening within the giant Westlands Water District as some growers fear the district’s longtime, controversial general manager is amassing too much power. In mid-February, district staff proposed new groundwater rules that would give General Manager Tom Birmingham almost total control over how groundwater is accounted for and to which grower accounts it would…

Drought • Federal System

Feds not giving “fair share” of water to all contractors, some say

March 8, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

In California’s byzantine water world, some water districts are, apparently, more equal than others, to paraphrase George Orwell. That appears to be the case in the federally operated Central Valley Project, particularly when it comes to two main sets of water districts: the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors and the Friant Contractors. On Feb. 27,…

Personalities

Kings County judge orders both sides to neutral corners in Boswell-Vidovich ditch bank battle

March 5, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Heavy equipment blockading a pipeline project from cutting through a canal was ordered removed on Friday and the pipeline project was halted temporarily by a Kings County Superior Court judge. The fight between the Tulare Lake Canal Company, controlled by the J.G. Boswell Company, and Sandridge Partners, controlled by John Vidovich, will be back in…

SGMA

Madera farmers may be facing a steep bill under county efforts to stem the groundwater overdraft

March 5, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Madera County farmers who’ve never had to pay for water, could be facing an expensive new future under a new fee plan being drafted by the county’s groundwater sustainability agency. The new fees could add up to more than $23,000 per 100 acres, tacked on to the cost of doing business for some growers. The…

Drinking Water

Got connections in rural SJV towns? Know how to work a room? The state may have a job for you…

March 3, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

If you know your way around impoverished, rural communities with bad drinking water in the San Joaquin Valley, the state needs your help. A highly anticipated $130 million annual program to fix bad drinking water systems in disadvantaged communities has sputtered getting off the ground because the state can’t seem to connect with residents. So,…

Drinking Water • Personalities

Lois Henry calls it quits!!!!

March 3, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Longtime water board member in the Santa Cruz area Lois Henry (not this reporter) has resigned her position on the San Lorenzo Valley Water District. Why should San Joaquin Valley readers care? Because she’s a strong leader who brought a lot of practical, common sense to delivering clean, reliable drinking water to her neighbors and,…

Rivers

POSTPONED!!!! Panel: Is there a way for all sides to “win” in the Kern River fight?

March 2, 2022

• by Lois Henry

!!!POSTPONED!!! Scheduling conflicts have waylaid this panel for some time. Please check back here or on the Bring Back the Kern site. The local grassroots group, Bring Back the Kern, will host a series of roundtable discussions to look at ways to restore the Kern River through Bakersfield and still satisfy…

Drought

Skimpy state snowpack points to another long, dry summer

March 1, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

California’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted its third snow survey of the season and the outlook is not good for the state’s water users. The survey recorded 35 inches of snow at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada mountains below Lake Tahoe. That’s about 68% of average for this time of year. Statewide, snowpack…

NEWS

From bulldozers to helicopters, Boswell-Vidovich battles continue

Deadline to apply for $50M to retire farmland coming up April 1

Westlands growers fear groundwater power grab by district general manager

Feds not giving “fair share” of water to all contractors, some say

Kings County judge orders both sides to neutral corners in Boswell-Vidovich ditch bank battle

Madera farmers may be facing a steep bill under county efforts to stem the groundwater overdraft

Got connections in rural SJV towns? Know how to work a room? The state may have a job for you…

Lois Henry calls it quits!!!!

POSTPONED!!!! Panel: Is there a way for all sides to “win” in the Kern River fight?

Skimpy state snowpack points to another long, dry summer

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