The California Farm Bureau reports a significant decline in San Joaquin Valley land values, attributed primarily to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). SGMA restricts groundwater pumping, which has hit …
American Agriculture History Minute: Irrigation Developed in the Great American Desert
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Agriculture in what is now Colorado began taking shape in the early 1850s. Then Rocky Mountain News founder William N. Byers …
California Groundwater Levels Show Improvement, but Challenges Remain
As California enters a new water year, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) released its Fall Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions update. The update highlights improvements made under the Sustainable Groundwater Management …
State Water Board Approves Rate Hikes for 2024-25, Impacting Farmers and Groundwater Recharge Projects
The California State Water Resources Control Board has approved rate increases for the 2024-25 fiscal year, impacting various water quality and water rights programs. These increases aim to address budget …
Farm Struggles Similar to Those Seen in 1980’s Continue to Impact Growers
There’s hope that ongoing farm challenges will begin to ease in the near future. Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobson said that it’s been a tough couple years for …
Kern County Subbasin Considered for SGMA Probation
The California State Water Resources Control Board is considering placing the Kern County Subbasin on probation because of concerns about its groundwater sustainability plans. A public hearing about this decision …
Restraining Order Against the State Water Resources Control Board Extended
Legal efforts to challenge probationary status under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act continue moving forward. Kings County Superior Court Judge Kathy Ciuffini extended a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing the …
New Report Released on Delta Drought Response Pilot Program
The Delta Conservancy’s report on their 2023 Delta Drought Response Pilot Program reveals mixed results in testing drought-resistant field management practices in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The program involved 61 …
USDA Providing $400 Million to Support Water Management in the West
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an investment of $400 million to help support at least 18 irrigation districts in the West. Districts across various states, including Idaho, …
Reclamation Seeks Comments on Proposed Changes to CVP Operation
The Bureau of Reclamation is hosting a series of events to garner public feedback about the future of water management projects. The community is being asked to weigh-in regarding the …
Judge Halts Enforcement of Tulare Lake Subbasin Probation
Parameters of the Tulare Lake Subbasin probation are being put on hold for the next several weeks. Kings County Superior Court Judge Ciuffini issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against …
Agricultural Groups Help Bring Bond Measure to the November Ballot
Western United Dairies and the Almond Alliance have helped to secure the passage of the legislation placing a new bond measure on the ballot in November. The Legislature passed SB …
Allocation Increased for CVP Ag Contractors South-of-Delta
The Bureau of Reclamation announced an increase in water supply allocation for south-of-Delta agricultural contractors in the Central Valley Project (CVP) from 40 percent to 50 percent. North-of-Delta contractors’ allocation …
Report Looks at Link Between Cover Crops and SGMA
A recent report highlights the impact that cover crops have on water management in the Central Valley in relation to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Key findings of the …