California officials are poised to take unprecedented action against excessive groundwater pumping in Kings County, potentially imposing state control to combat the agricultural practices that threaten local water sustainability.
California may soon implement state control over groundwater in Kings County due to excessive pumping by agricultural interests.
This move could mark the first time the state enforces the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, aiming to protect local water supplies and prevent land subsidence.
Major agricultural players in the region, influencing local groundwater policies, may face significant financial penalties.
Key quote:
"The stakes are extremely high, and the risk is extremely high."
— Jasmine Rivera, community development specialist at Self-Help Enterprises
Why this matters:
California's relationship with groundwater is a complex dance between necessity and sustainability.
The court ruled that the state can restrict new groundwater pumping if it will impact other users and wildlife, a decision environmentalists are calling a major win in updating the state’s water law.
The Times asked all 50 states how they police the use of valuable groundwater. Their answers reveal why the country is draining and damaging its aquifers so rapidly.
