pumping Archives - Page 2 of 4

Water district between two counties and two subbasins forges its own groundwater sustainability path

February 13, 2024

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

The small Kern-Tulare Water District moved forward recently in breaking away from two other groundwater agencies to form its own independent groundwater sustainability agency (GSA). As the state’s historic Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) turns 10 this year and the 2040 deadline to bring aquifers into balance edges closer, groundwater agencies have splintered and reformed…

Uncategorized

How a state-funded drought program was converted to help farmers take on flood water and permanently cut groundwater pumping

January 23, 2024

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

When farmers fallowed thousands of acres during the recent drought, most didn’t expect they would be flooding those lands months later. But that’s what happened during last year’s historic floods after the state adapted LandFlex, a drought program, to take on some of the deluge from valley rivers. “Our original intent with fallow land was…

SGMA • Uncategorized

Public mostly mum on prospect of state take-over of Kings County groundwater pumping

November 6, 2023

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

With the state poised to possibly mandate how much water Kings County farmers are allowed to pump, it was surprising how quiet the first public workshop on this contentious issue was. While more than 225 people attended the online workshop Nov. 3, hardly anyone spoke or asked questions of the Water Resources Control Board staff….

Drought

New state program aims to help residents before wells go dry in California’s next, inevitable, drought

August 7, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

After two multi-year episodes of intense drought over the past decade, there is finally a centralized hub of resources and information for well owners and communities that suffered when their wells went dry. Before the most recent drought lifted thanks to this year’s historic winter, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) launched its Be Well…

Drought • SGMA

State pays valley farmers millions to keep water in the ground

July 25, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

The state is sending millions to farmers throughout the San Joaquin Valley to keep water in the ground. The money, paid through the LandFlex program, goes to groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) and then directly to farmers, paying them for every acre foot they don’t pump. On July 24, the Department of Water Resources announced awards…

Uncategorized

Freeway sign marks significant chapter in California water history

June 14, 2023

• by Lois Henry

Travelers along northbound Highway 99 may have noticed a large – very large – sign a little ways past Highway 166 that says “Howard Frick Pump Plant” in massive white letters on a blue background. Well, who the heck is Howard Frick, some drivers may wonder. Frick was one of the main people who ushered…

SGMA • Uncategorized

State rejects six San Joaquin Valley groundwater plans, which could bring enforcement action

March 2, 2023

• by Jesse Vad and Lois Henry, SJV Water

Six San Joaquin Valley groundwater agencies learned Thursday they could be subject to state enforcement action if they don’t redo plans to bring their aquifers back into balance. In its final determinations, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) said the inadequate plans either didn’t do enough to protect water quality, allowed for too much continued…

Drought • Personalities

ROOTED IN THE VALLEY: From India to Selma, farming has been a way of life for the Brar family

January 25, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

This is the first in a series of videos we’re calling “Rooted in the Valley.” We hope to highlight family farmers in the San Joaquin Valley, how they came to this area from all over the world and what the future holds as water becomes a key factor in their ability to survive. Thank…

SGMA

Madera farmers push back on tighter pumping restrictions, county agrees to keep status quo

January 11, 2023

• by Rose Horowitch, SJV Water reporting intern

Facing heated pushback from growers, Madera County officials decided to maintain current groundwater pumping allotments for the next two years rather than reduce allocations over that time. At its Jan. 10 meeting, Board of Supervisors also considered increasing penalties for growers who exceed pumping allocations in the Madera, Chowchilla, and Delta-Mendota subbasins as part of…

Drought

Storms bring river flows, frustration for San Joaquin Valley water managers

January 7, 2023

• by Jesse Vad and Lois Henry, SJV Water

The string of wet storms streaming over California since the end of 2022 have brought the San Joaquin Valley both relief and frustration, depending on location. In the Fresno area, flows out of Millerton Lake into the San Joaquin River have nearly tripled from 600 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 1,600 cfs. In the…

NEWS

Water district between two counties and two subbasins forges its own groundwater sustainability path

How a state-funded drought program was converted to help farmers take on flood water and permanently cut groundwater pumping

Public mostly mum on prospect of state take-over of Kings County groundwater pumping

New state program aims to help residents before wells go dry in California’s next, inevitable, drought

State pays valley farmers millions to keep water in the ground

Freeway sign marks significant chapter in California water history

State rejects six San Joaquin Valley groundwater plans, which could bring enforcement action

ROOTED IN THE VALLEY: From India to Selma, farming has been a way of life for the Brar family

Madera farmers push back on tighter pumping restrictions, county agrees to keep status quo

Storms bring river flows, frustration for San Joaquin Valley water managers

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