California farmers depleted groundwater in this county. Now a state crackdown could rein them in
For the first time in California history, state officials are poised to crack down on overpumping of groundwater in the agricultural heartland. The State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday will weigh whether to put Kings County groundwater agencies on probation for failing to rein in growers’ overdrafting of the underground water supply. Probation —…
As companies buy up more valley farmland, the wells get deeper, according to new study
Private companies have been snatching up more and more farmland and drilling deeper wells, according to new research. A newly published study looked at data from 2003-2017 and showed a drastic increase in limited liability companies (LLCs) buying up farmland throughout the state. It also looked at well drilling in the San Joaquin Valley specifically…
Outdoor fires, unsafe drinking water, and more money – and power – for the Fresno City Attorney
A resolution to standardize the enforcement of city laws against open “warming fires” outdoors put Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias at odds with homeless advocates this week. Arias brought forward a resolution to declare outdoor warming fires “a health and safety hazard and a public nuisance,” calling upon the relevant authorities to extinguish them. He…
Fresno hospital’s request for flood relief funding for ‘X-Ray Rooms’ remains unexplained
Community Medical Centers declined to explain its request for $1.23 million in federal flood relief money made for “X-Ray Rooms.”
Kings County supervisors appoint Boswell employees to 10 water boards
At their Tuesday meeting, the Kings County Supervisors approved 27 appointments to water district boards — with 21 of the seats going to employees of the farming giant.
As toxins taint Central Valley water, community and political leaders face uphill battle
In spring, Erica Diaz stood in front of about a dozen people at the Orosi Branch Library in Tulare County and held up two water bottles: The first had unappealing murky water, while the second bottle was clear. Diaz asked which they would choose to drink—a seemingly leading question. Turns out, the murky water was…
San Joaquin Valley growers may face probation for failing to protect groundwater
California water officials on Thursday recommended putting several San Joaquin Valley groundwater agencies on probation for failing to develop an adequate plan to stop over pumping their severely overdrafted aquifers. The Tulare Lake groundwater basin — which provides well water to residents and hundreds of square miles of dairies and farms, including land owned by…
Is groundwater trading the future of California water?
A summit in Fresno last week was upbeat on a dour topic: the megadrought of the American West. If the recent blockbuster report about civilization exceeding nearly all of Earth’s natural limits was harsh, the summit – thrown at Fresno State’s newest building, the Resnick Center, named after Stuart Resnick, California’s wealthiest farmer – was…
Central Valley communities of color lack flood control. Would representation on water boards help?
During three weeks in December and January, storms dumped 32 trillion gallons of rain and snow on California. With it came unwelcome floods for many communities of color. The winter and spring storms were a rare chance for drought-stricken communities to collect rainwater, rather than have their farms, homes and more overwhelmed by water. Much…
East Orosi residents protest what they say is abusive, dysfunctional water district
Just as residents in rural East Orosi are getting some traction on drinking water issues, they are dealing with what they call abusive treatment over sewage services, and they’ve had enough. At a recent protest during the East Orosi Community Services District meeting, about 40 residents laid out charges of mistreatment. They alleged the district…
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