water board Archives

Will a pending water rights bill on Gov. Newsom’s desk be a game changer in California water? It depends

September 15, 2023

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

A water rights bill that made it through the Legislature this year is, arguably, a much weakened version of its original form, but the fact that it addresses senior rights at all is a significant step, according to experts. Senate Bill 389, which clarifies the state Water Resources Control Board’s ability to investigate senior water…

Policy

Speaker: Government control creeping ever further into water rights

September 27, 2022

• by Lois Henry

In a fast-paced trip through the evolution of California’s water rights, attorney Valerie Kincaid explained how the system has gone from the “wild, wild west” to one pervaded by ever greater government creep. By expanding its authorities under what had been thought of as several limited court decisions, state government is now essentially dictating operations…

Rivers • The Law of the River

VIDEO: What is 2nd Point on the Kern River?

September 7, 2022

• by Lois Henry

This is the third in a series of videos attempting to break down and explain who owns the Kern River. Structures along the river measure its flows and then divvy it up between its historic owners. So, it’s important to understand these structures, where they are and how they work. We looked at First Point…

Drought • SGMA

Drought, groundwater restrictions and – oh yeah, drought – pervade talk at annual Kern water summit

May 19, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Local and state water leaders were practically upbeat two years ago at the last in-person Water Summit put on by the Water Association of Kern County. At least as upbeat as California water folks typically get. They advocated for new ideas, radical partnerships and solutions that could benefit both ag and environmental interests. That was…

Personalities

Water policy and politics, always an interesting mix

February 23, 2022

• by Jesse Vad and Lois Henry, SJV Water

Just before announcing she was switching her quest for reelection from one state Senate district to another, Melissa Hurtado appears to have thrown up a flag announcing her conservative bona fides in what could become a contest of the most right-leaning Democrat. On Feb. 17, Hurtado, who currently represents Sanger, introduced Senate Bill 1219 to…

Rivers

New Kern River coalition; Grassroots or astroturf?

November 23, 2021

• by Lois Henry

The main water district involved in several legal battles for Kern River water has launched a new coalition/messaging campaign it is calling Sustainable Kern River. Its website says the organization is a coalition and lists several members, but its creation and funding comes from North Kern Water Storage District, according to North Kern’s General Manager…

SGMA

State’s groundwater “cop” hands out more criticism of valley plans

November 19, 2021

• by Lois Henry

Another set of comments critical of how San Joaquin Valley groundwater plans will impact drinking water wells dropped on Friday from the powerful State Water Resources Control Board. The comments focused on plans that cover the City of Fresno and many surrounding towns as well as Visalia and a number of smaller towns in Tulare…

NEWS

Will a pending water rights bill on Gov. Newsom’s desk be a game changer in California water? It depends

Speaker: Government control creeping ever further into water rights

VIDEO: What is 2nd Point on the Kern River?

Drought, groundwater restrictions and – oh yeah, drought – pervade talk at annual Kern water summit

Water policy and politics, always an interesting mix

New Kern River coalition; Grassroots or astroturf?

State’s groundwater “cop” hands out more criticism of valley plans

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