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Ten years after the law known as SGMA changed California’s water world, what’s next?

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water
Monday marked the 10-year anniversary of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, (SGMA) which aims to bring severely over pumped aquifers back into balance by 2040.  Even with more than $1 billion already spent, two groundwater subbasins on probation and enforcement actions being challenged in court, some state officials say the hard part is just beginning. …
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State puts second San Joaquin Valley groundwater basin on probation, with two exceptions

• by Lisa McEwen and Jesse Vad, SJV Water
Farmers in southern Tulare County will face greater pumping scrutiny after the state placed the region on probation following a lengthy hearing in Sacramento on Tuesday. State Water Resources Control Board members acknowledged a new groundwater plan submitted by water managers in August had made great strides in many areas. But the big sticking point…
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Kings County judge rules against state Water Board in high-stakes groundwater case

• by Lois Henry, Lisa McEwen, Monserrat Solis
Editor’s note: Monserrat Solis is a California Local News Fellow  The state Water Resources Control Board exceeded its authority, operated under a web of “underground regulations” and made unlawful demands of Kings County water managers, according to a preliminary injunction that is a near total repudiation of state actions in its attempt to reign in…
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State budget cuts having “profound” impact on water agencies from state to local levels

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water
The impacts from California’s financial problems are starting to be revealed as some water agencies are implementing serious cutbacks.  During its August board meeting, staff at the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board announced they are trimming the operations budget by 5% because of state budget cuts.  Meanwhile, San Joaquin Valley groundwater managers are…
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New Mid-Kings River GSA looking for diverse committee members, among its new actions as re-formed agency

• by Monserrat Solis, California Local News Fellow
Editor’s note: Monserrat Solis covers Kings County water issues for SJV Water through the California Local News Fellowship initiative. A newly relaunched groundwater agency is looking to form a diverse, 11-member committee made up of land owners to provide input on future water decisions for a large chunk of northern Kings County. The Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability…
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State Water Board staff gives two groundwater agencies a pass, keeps Tule subbasin on hook for probation

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water
A final report released by state Water Resources Control Board staff Friday maintains its recommendation that the Tule subbasin be put on probation but gives a pass to two specific groundwater agencies within the subbasin. The report recommends that farmers in the Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District and Kern-Tulare Water District groundwater sustainability agencies be exempted from…
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Fresno district marches toward groundwater recharge goals

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water
The Fresno Irrigation District is 47 acres closer to its goal of building 1,300 acres of recharge basins capable of sinking 200,000 acre feet of water during a wet years. It celebrated the completion of the 47-acre Kenneson and Sanchez basins on August 21. The addition of those basins brought its total recharge acreage to…
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Fresno State study examines how water recharge could help or harm disadvantaged communities on a regional scale

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water
A study examining the benefits and drawbacks of building groundwater recharge basins near rural communities is underway in Merced, Madera, Tulare and Fresno counties. The two-year study is a spinoff of an earlier feasibility study focused solely on Fresno County, and both are spearheaded by the California Water Institute at Fresno State University.  “Floodplains and…
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Kings County judge extends restraining order giving growers more time as they fight state pumping restrictions

• by Monserrat Solis, California Local News Fellow
Editor’s note: Monserrat Solis covers Kings County water issues for SJV Water through the California Local News Fellowship initiative. Kings County farmers will have more time to fight requirements from the State Water Resources Control Board to meter their wells and pay extraction fees. A temporary restraining order blocking those measures was extended to Sept. 13 by…
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Westlands uses $1 million in state money to take out orchards, increase recharge

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water
Westlands Water District has removed 452 acres of almond orchards thanks to a $1 million grant from the state Department of Water Resources (DWR.) It’s one project in an ongoing list aimed at bringing the district’s groundwater into sustainability.  “The district has been acquiring land since 2022 with the goal of reducing groundwater pumping in…
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