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Madera Judge asks for more information in lawsuit over fees for groundwater projects

• by Hannah Frances Johansson, Freelance for SJV Water
Round one of a lawsuit brought by a group of farmers against Madera County over land assessment fees left both sides standing — for now. On June 18, Madera County Superior Court Judge Brian Enos inched forward on the county’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the California United Water Coalition. He granted the…
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New program to help Kern residents with nitrate-tainted water

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water
A new water quality initiative in Kern County is gearing up to go live in the next few months to help residents whose water is contaminated with nitrates. The state’s nitrate control program launched in 2021. It offers free well testing and water deliveries for residents whose wells test over the limit for nitrates. The…
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Madera farmers and groundwater agency in limbo waiting for court decision on fees

• by Hannah Frances Johansson, freelance for SJV Water
Clarification: The farmers’ lawsuit alleges the county conducted a Proposition 218 election improperly. The original version of this article was unclear on the lawsuit’s main complaint.   The end of a two-year legal fight over who should pay, and how much, to replenish the groundwater beneath Madera County could be in sight. A motion to…
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San Joaquin Valley counties, some still drying out from last year’s floods, brace for another round of heavy rain, snow

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water
As another storm barrels toward California, local officials are warning residents to stay up to date on weather conditions and be prepared in case of flooding, power outages or other emergencies.  An atmospheric river will bring widespread rain and gusty winds throughout the San Joaquin Valley starting Saturday night. The storm will last into Monday,…
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“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…
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One Central Valley dam project gets nearly $95 million in funding; two others still in proposal phase

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water
Three dam expansion projects could increase water storage for use in the Central Valley by a whopping 304,000 acre feet. Each of the projects would raise existing dams, not build new ones. The project that is furthest along would raise the B.F. Sisk Dam in Merced County to expand San Luis Reservoir storage by 130,000…
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Valley agencies in a race against winter and a fast-approaching state deadline to repair flood damage

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water
All across Tulare County, the race is on to repair flood-damaged infrastructure before an anticipated El Niño winter and an even more looming expiration of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order that relaxed permitting for levee work and debris clean up. The work has lagged, though, as creeks and rivers are still flowing or the ground…
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Chowchilla groundwater plan resubmitted, state releases probationary hearing schedule

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water
The first of six inadequate San Joaquin Valley groundwater plans has been revised. Water managers in the Chowchilla subbasin made changes to its groundwater sustainability plan (GSP) and informally resubmitted the plan to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) in hopes of avoiding a probationary trial and state intervention.  In March, six valley plans…
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Another San Joaquin Valley groundwater plan appears headed for rejection

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water
The Madera subbasin’s groundwater plan appears headed for state rejection after one of the region’s seven groundwater agencies refused to approve the most recent version of the plan.  Madera Irrigation District (MID) was the one dissenting agency that did not approve the plan and blamed other groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) for delays and inaction.  “Madera…
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Big rivers kept in check as residents grappled with havoc from streams, springs and snowmelt in Madera and Fresno counties

• by Gregory Weaver, Fresnoland
  Editor’s note: This story was done in collaboration with SJV Water and Fresnoland. By GREGORY WEAVER Fresnoland In Fresno and Madera counties, it was smaller streams and snowmelt that caused most of the flooding and other issues brought on by the latest spate of atmospheric rivers pummeling the state. That was especially true in…
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