surface water Archives

Heated water district race reveals fears that wealthy outsiders are calling the shots, selling water

October 28, 2024

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

A contentious race for a seat on the Laguna Irrigation District board of directors in Kings County is revealing deep-seated fears that wealthy outside interests are driving district policies tipping the scales against smaller, local farmers. At the heart of those fears is a name that’s well-known in water circles, John Vidovich. Vidovich controls Sandridge…

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Accusations of “extortion” and “bullying” fly in dispute over who should pay for sinking the Friant-Kern Canal

October 11, 2024

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

A last-resort attempt to shore up funding for ongoing Friant-Kern Canal repairs has run into a buzzsaw of opposition from several irrigation districts that were stuck with the bill – up to $295 million. A letter disputing the fees accuses the Friant Water Authority, which operates the canal, of, among other things, extortion. “What would…

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Dairies in Tulare and Kings counties still struggling with damage in wake of last year’s flooding

January 19, 2024

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

When flood water swamped dairies in Tulare and Kings counties last spring, it destroyed equipment, drowned crops and left a trail of salt-laden muck that farmers are still grappling with. The ongoing damage is so bad, some dairies may never recover. The biggest problem is the loss of crops and cropland. Farmers lost an entire…

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…

Drought • Rivers

Putah Creek’s experience suggests getting water back in the Kern River could be a “slam dunk”

October 22, 2022

• by Lois Henry

If water rights on the Kern River were challenged in a public trust lawsuit, those rights would lose water, according to a legal expert on the public trust doctrine. Even when water rights go back more than 100 years, which is the case on the Kern River, the public trust doctrine holds sway. “It’s not…

Drinking Water • Drought

Water debt doubles for residents of tiny, impoverished west Fresno County towns

October 20, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Water debt has ballooned to nearly double what it was last year in Cantua Creek and El Porvenir, two small towns in western Fresno County where nearly half the residents live in poverty. The towns were supposed to be getting water from two new wells by now but the project hasn’t been completed so they’ve…

NEWS

Heated water district race reveals fears that wealthy outsiders are calling the shots, selling water

Accusations of “extortion” and “bullying” fly in dispute over who should pay for sinking the Friant-Kern Canal

Dairies in Tulare and Kings counties still struggling with damage in wake of last year’s flooding

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

Putah Creek’s experience suggests getting water back in the Kern River could be a “slam dunk”

Water debt doubles for residents of tiny, impoverished west Fresno County towns

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