Traditional sources of freshwater are dwindling as a result of increased demand, reduced natural replenishment, volatile weather patterns, and extended-duration droughts. Desalination, the industrial-scale removal of salt...more
1/16/2025
/ Climate Change ,
Contamination ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Policies ,
Groundwater ,
Infrastructure ,
Natural Resources ,
Pollution Control ,
Public Health ,
Sustainability ,
Wastewater ,
Water ,
Water Conservation ,
Water Quality
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
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
The California 2023 Legislative Session ended on September 14, 2023, and presented the Governor with several important changes to California’s water-related statutes. The Governor had until October 14, 2023, to sign all...more
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
On Monday, September 12, 2022, a California Court of Appeal upheld a decision that the State Water Resources Control Board (the “Board”) lacks jurisdictional authority to issue curtailment notices to pre-1914 appropriative...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
THE DROUGHT CRISIS - 2021 was the driest year California has experienced in a century. At the end of the water year, spanning October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, the State received only 11.87 inches of precipitation,...more