A judge has temporarily blocked a plan by a California state water board to take over monitoring groundwater use in a portion of the crop-rich San Joaquin Valley, according to a copy of the decision obtained on July 16. Kings...more
7/22/2024
/ California ,
Climate Change ,
Crops ,
Department of Environmental Quality ,
Drinking Water ,
Drought ,
Farm Bureau ,
Farmers ,
Groundwater ,
Lack of Authority ,
Public Schools ,
State and Local Government ,
Wastewater ,
Water Conservation ,
Water Resources Control Board ,
Water Rights
Powerful pumps that supply much of California’s population with water have killed several thousand threatened and endangered fish this year, prompting environmental groups to demand that state and federal agencies take...more
4/15/2024
/ Bureau of Reclamation ,
Department of Environmental Quality ,
Department of the Interior ,
Department of Water Resources ,
Endangered Species ,
Environmental Policies ,
Farms ,
Groundwater ,
Rivers ,
Water ,
Water Management ,
Water Supplies
Top water officials for the seven Colorado River Basin states met in December 2023 at the Colorado River Water Users Association conference to resume negotiating a new compromise for how they will share — and cut back on —...more
1/15/2024
/ Agricultural Sector ,
Bureau of Reclamation ,
CA Supreme Court ,
Construction Industry ,
Department of Water Resources ,
Drought ,
Farmers ,
Food Supply ,
Housing Developers ,
Rivers ,
Water ,
Water Conservation ,
Water Management ,
Water Supplies ,
Wetlands
California legislators have passed a bill articulating the scope of the State Water Resources Control Board’s authority to investigate water rights. Senate Bill 389, which will go to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for a final...more
9/25/2023
/ Crops ,
Drinking Water ,
Drought ,
Farmers ,
Groundwater ,
Recycling ,
Surface Water ,
Tribal Lands ,
Wastewater ,
Water Resources Control Board ,
Water Rights ,
Water Supplies
When ranchers violated an emergency order to stop pumping water from the Shasta River in 2022, state officials fined them $4,000, or roughly $50 each. Now California legislators are weighing a bill that would triple fines for...more
With torrential rains drenching California, state water regulators have endorsed a plan to divert floodwaters from the San Joaquin River to replenish groundwater that has been depleted by heavy agricultural pumping during...more
In early November, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case brought by the Navajo Nation that could have far-reaching impacts on tribal water rights in the Colorado River Basin....more
California legislators reject bill to curb agricultural groundwater pumping -
The Bakersfield Californian – September 4 -
California lawmakers have rejected proposed legislation seeking to rein in agricultural...more
As severe drought conditions continue across the western U.S., Allen Matkins will begin publishing a quarterly newsletter focused on recent legal, regulatory, and policy issues impacting water users and suppliers in...more
6/20/2022
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Drinking Water ,
Drought ,
Groundwater ,
Groundwater Management Plan ,
Hydropower ,
Popular ,
State Water Boards ,
State Water Project ,
Water ,
Water Conservation ,
Water Rights ,
Water Supplies