GSP Archives - SJV Water

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…

Uncategorized

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…

Uncategorized

Delano water bottling plant prompts concerns over exporting native groundwater

January 3, 2024

• by Lois Henry

News of the new Niagara Bottling plant going up in Delano hit the local groundwater agency with surprise and alarm. The plant is permitted to use 1.6 million gallons of groundwater per day, according to a will-serve letter issued by the city in August 2022. That works out to 1,788 acre feet per year, assuming…

SGMA

Another group of Kern County water districts forming their own groundwater agency in face of possible state action

June 29, 2022

• by Lois Henry

A group of water districts clustered on the western edge of Kern County that are currently members of the Kern Groundwater Authority (KGA) announced they will form their own groundwater sustainability agency. The Westside District Water Authority, made up of the Belridge Water Storage District and the Lost Hills and the Berrenda Mesa water districts,…

Groundwater

SJV on VPR!

June 4, 2021

• by Lois Henry

Valley Public Radio in Fresno interviewed me about SJV Water’s story on subsidence in Corcoran that ran in the New York Times. TAKE A LISTEN!…

Drought • Groundwater • State System

Valley groundwater may get (small) slice of state’s $15 billion surplus

January 13, 2021

• by Lois Henry

The Governor’s proposal for how to spend California’s $15 billion surplus includes $60 million in direct grants to help replenish groundwater in the valley’s most depleted basins. The measure specifies the money is to be used in “critically over-drafted basins,” which lie mostly in the San Joaquin Valley. Water managers were pleasantly surprised, but not…

Friant-Kern Canal

Proposed agreement could boost funds to fix Friant-Kern Canal

December 16, 2020

• by Lois Henry

In what was hailed as a “landmark agreement,” farmers in an area of southern Tulare County blamed for sinking the Friant-Kern Canal from excessive groundwater pumping will chip in a hefty amount to help pay for a fix. How hefty could be decided by their payment choice. A longer term payment option would be $200…

Conservation • Groundwater

New land trust focused on groundwater aims to give farmers options

December 2, 2020

• by Lois Henry

Southern Tulare County farmers inching toward a cliff of groundwater restrictions that could dry up tens of thousands of acres have joined with conservationists to potentially soften their own landing and help improve wildlife habitat at the same time. At least that’s the goal of the newly formed Tule Basin and Water Conservation Trust. “Land…

Groundwater

Madera groundwater plan accepted by state

November 11, 2020

• by Lois Henry

The public can finally get a look at how Madera officials plan to correct severe groundwater over pumping and replenish aquifers in that area. For some farmers, that correction will mean pumping limits of up to 50 percent from what’s allowed today. Water budgets and water markets will also likely become the norm. That information…

Conservation • Groundwater • Water Markets

Evaporation adds up. How much? Google it – someday

September 17, 2020

• by Lois Henry

There are lots of new water gizmos popping up these days but there’s only one Google. Which makes the massive tech company’s involvement in a proposed water measurement tool both intriguing and slightly suspicious to some agricultural water managers. The same goes for another partner in the effort, the Environmental Defense Fund, a well-known advocacy…

NEWS

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

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

Delano water bottling plant prompts concerns over exporting native groundwater

Another group of Kern County water districts forming their own groundwater agency in face of possible state action

SJV on VPR!

Valley groundwater may get (small) slice of state’s $15 billion surplus

Proposed agreement could boost funds to fix Friant-Kern Canal

New land trust focused on groundwater aims to give farmers options

Madera groundwater plan accepted by state

Evaporation adds up. How much? Google it – someday

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