Wednesday Top of the Scroll: California acts to halt Kings County’s groundwater overpumping
Kings County growers will face millions of dollars in fees and a mandate to report groundwater pumping after California officials voted unanimously today to put local agencies on probation for failing to protect the region’s underground water supply. The unprecedented decision is a first step that could eventually lead to the state wresting control of a groundwater basin in a severely depleted part of the San Joaquin Valley. Before issuing the probation order, the State Water Resources Control Board had repeatedly warned five groundwater agencies in Kings County that their management plan for the Tulare Lake basin is seriously deficient, failing to rein in the dried-up wells, contaminated water and sinking earth worsened by overpumping.
Related articles:
- Los Angeles Times: California farming area placed on probation over declining groundwater and sinking land
- Courthouse News Service: California state water board places Tulare Lake Subbasin on probation
- Associated Press: Crop-rich California region will fall under state monitoring to preserve groundwater flow
- Politico: California’s most waterproof water fight
- Tehachapi News: Bear Valley CSD hears from water district