water Archives - Page 11 of 30

Long-serving, controversial manager of Westlands Water District resigns

November 23, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Longtime Westlands Water District General Manager Tom Birmingham announced Nov. 23 that he will retire as of Dec. 31. “I am retiring with extreme pride in the things Westlands had accomplished over the last two decades,” he wrote in an email announcement. Birmingham had faced the likelihood that a newly-elected majority on the Westlands board…

Groundwater • SGMA

State water agency wades into lawsuit to maintain its authority over groundwater plans

November 18, 2022

• by Rose Horowitch, SJV Water reporting intern

A lawsuit over groundwater plans in the northern end of the San Joaquin Valley is being closely watched as it could have implications for how the state’s groundwater mandate moves forward, according to a recent briefing on the issue at the Kern Groundwater Authority. At the Nov. 16 meeting, authority attorney Valerie Kincaid explained that…

Personalities

Longtime Kern farmer, water leader recognized for their efforts

November 17, 2022

• by SJV Water

The Water Association of Kern County held its annual meeting and dinner Nov. 9 where it awarded its “Water Leader of the Year” and “Water Legacy Awards” to two longtime figures in the local farming and water worlds. Following is the association’s press release: BAKERSFIELD, CA – The Water Association of Kern County proudly presented…

Groundwater • SGMA

Scientists uncover ancient “super highways” to increase groundwater recharge

November 17, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

In the chronically overpumped San Joaquin Valley, groundwater recharge can’t happen fast enough. And researchers at University of California, Davis and Stanford University have found underground highways that could put recharge into the fast lane. In a new paper released today, scientists show that airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys flown with helicopters can locate ancient underground…

Personalities • Policy

“Change” candidates sweep Westlands Water District board election; may dump longtime General Manager Tom Birmingham

November 15, 2022

• by Jesse Vad and Lois Henry, SJV Water

The math was not in Tom Birmingham’s favor. It was clear weeks before the Nov. 8 election that the board of the massive Westlands Water District in western Fresno County would be changing. And that change would likely result in the controversial General Manager’s ouster. There were four board seats up for election. A preliminary…

Personalities

“Drop out” from race for seat on a powerful Kern water board appears poised to win

November 11, 2022

• by Lois Henry

If challenger Eric Averett maintains his lead over incumbent Phil Cerro for a seat on the powerful Kern County Water Agency board, it may prove just how effective a campaign statement can be. Averett said he tried to withdraw his name from the ballot after belatedly learning Cerro would run. But he missed the deadline…

SGMA

Kern County ag water district looks for ways to bolster its influence after post-midterms

November 10, 2022

• by Rose Horowitch, SJV Water reporting intern

After an election night marked by statewide victories for moderate Democrats, one of the San Joaquin Valley’s biggest agricultural water districts assessed how best to maintain its influence. During the Nov. 9 Board of Directors meeting of the Semitropic Water Storage District, former Democratic state senator Dean Florez, now a lobbyist for Semitropic, updated the…

Policy

Tiny, rural Allensworth takes on climate change with help from state grant

November 8, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

The fight against climate change is coming to the small town of Allensworth in Tulare County. The state awarded $300,000 to the Allensworth Progressive Association, a local nonprofit, to “implement neighborhood-level projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health and the environment and expand economic opportunity for residents,” according to a press release from…

Rivers • The Law of the River

VIDEO: Understanding the Kern River, east to west

November 7, 2022

• by Lois Henry

Water on the Kern River works hard from start to finish. In this Law of the River video, we continue our journey down the river starting at Truxtun Avenue and Coffee Road in the heart of Bakersfield. The Kern River is mostly dry through Bakersfield as its waters are moved to farms, drinking water plants…

Drinking Water • Drought

State bails out Coalinga for water costs

November 3, 2022

• by SJV Water

The City of Coalinga got word Nov. 2 that the Department of Water Resources would pick up the entire $1.2 million tab for supplemental water the city was forced to buy after drought cut its federal supplies to the bone. DWR press release below: DWR Provides Funding to City of Coalinga for Emergency Water Purchase State…

NEWS

Long-serving, controversial manager of Westlands Water District resigns

State water agency wades into lawsuit to maintain its authority over groundwater plans

Longtime Kern farmer, water leader recognized for their efforts

Scientists uncover ancient “super highways” to increase groundwater recharge

“Change” candidates sweep Westlands Water District board election; may dump longtime General Manager Tom Birmingham

“Drop out” from race for seat on a powerful Kern water board appears poised to win

Kern County ag water district looks for ways to bolster its influence after post-midterms

Tiny, rural Allensworth takes on climate change with help from state grant

VIDEO: Understanding the Kern River, east to west

State bails out Coalinga for water costs

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