growers Archives - SJV Water

Kaweah’s new groundwater plan may be enough to negate state action, if they can see eye-to-eye on subsidence

July 1, 2024

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

The state came to Tulare County and gave water managers in the Kaweah subbasin kudos for being proactive on their new plan to stop over pumping in the region. The head of the state Water Resources Control Board Joaquin Esquivel himself was there to praise the managers. “We are heartened by the coordination we see…

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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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Kings County growers nix local groundwater fees as they face state actions aimed at curbing excessive pumping

April 25, 2024

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

Hundreds of landowners in the Tulare Lake groundwater subbasin overwhelmingly rejected proposed pumping fees this week that would have added thousands of dollars on top of fees they’re expected to start paying the state in coming months. The fee showdown at the Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency meeting April 23 came just a week after…

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Second San Joaquin Valley groundwater subbasin recommended for state takeover

March 11, 2024

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

The Friant-Kern Canal was called out specifically as one of the reasons the state should take over pumping in the Tule groundwater subbasin in Tulare County. The recommendation was contained in a recently released staff report to the Water Resources Control Board. While the report stated groundwater management plans covering the subbasin didn’t adequately address…

Floods • Uncategorized

Flooding out other farmers was “premeditated” by the powerful J.G. Boswell Company, one farmer asserts

March 25, 2023

• by Lois Henry

By the time Erik Hansen had a moment to sit down in a Corcoran pizza parlor on a recent afternoon, the 5th generation farmer was tired, detached and a little defeated looking. He talked matter-of-factly of his family’s losses so far: At least 3,000 acres are under water, some orchards will die, his cousin’s house…

SGMA

Court pauses groundwater fees in Madera County; throws regional plans into question

December 9, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Farmers in Madera County successfully blocked a key groundwater fee that could upend plans to bring that region’s aquifer into balance per a state mandate. A Madera County Superior Court judge issued a temporary injunction on the county’s fee of $246 per farm unit acre on Dec. 7. That fee was the underpinning for a…

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…

NEWS

Kaweah’s new groundwater plan may be enough to negate state action, if they can see eye-to-eye on subsidence

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

Kings County growers nix local groundwater fees as they face state actions aimed at curbing excessive pumping

Second San Joaquin Valley groundwater subbasin recommended for state takeover

Flooding out other farmers was “premeditated” by the powerful J.G. Boswell Company, one farmer asserts

Court pauses groundwater fees in Madera County; throws regional plans into question

Westlands growers fear groundwater power grab by district general manager

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