irrigation
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Tulare Lake basin faces state intervention over water issues
California water regulators have placed the Tulare Lake basin on probation due to insufficient action against excessive groundwater pumping, risking further environmental damage.
Ian James and Jessica Garrison report for the Los Angeles Times.
In short:
- The State Water Resources Control Board's decision marks a first in using state authority to directly manage groundwater depletion in California.
- Affected farmers must now report water usage and incur fees, aiming to foster more sustainable water management practices.
- Local plans deemed inadequate by the state have led to significant land subsidence, prompting urgent calls for revised groundwater management strategies.
Key quote:
"The reality is that probation is a step. It’s a process that ultimately is about local control."
— Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board
Why this matters:
California's relationship with groundwater is a complex dance between necessity and sustainability. Picture a parched landscape where water scarcity is not just a concern but a daily reality. That's the canvas upon which California's water saga unfolds, with groundwater serving as a critical player.
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Nebraska's water ownership quandary amid farmland investments
Nebraska grapples with the implications of out-of-state investments in farmland, spurred by the valuable groundwater resources of the Ogallala Aquifer.
Yanqi Xu reports for Flatwater Free Press. Storyrepublished by Investigate Midwest.
In short:
- John Childears, a local farmer, highlights the critical value of water in Nebraska, where regulations restrict new irrigation wells.
- Groundwater rights in Nebraska don’t equate to ownership, meaning the water under the land can be used but with stringent controls.
- Rising farmland purchases by out-of-state investors raise concerns over water usage, but legal experts note strict regulatory measures prevent misuse.
Key quote:
“It’s what I call, ‘The guy with the deepest and biggest well wins,.”
— Dean Edson, Executive Director of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts.
Why this matters:
The issue of water rights affects not just agriculture and property values but also broader health outcomes linked to sustainable water resources management. This issue is particularly salient as climate change exacerbates water scarcity, making stewardship over such resources a matter of national concern.
Do rivers have rights? A movement to grant rights to the environment tests the power of local control.
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Utah introduces new regulations for mineral extraction at the Great Salt Lake
A recent bill passed by the Utah Legislature introduces significant changes to the regulation of mineral extraction at the Great Salt Lake, aiming to address the lake's declining water levels.
In short:
- The bill, known as HB 453, introduces more stringent water use regulations to protect the Great Salt Lake from further decline.
- It increases the severance tax on mineral extraction and requires companies to report water usage and salinity levels.
- Despite some environmental groups' concerns, the legislation is seen as a crucial step towards sustainable management of the lake's resources.
Key quote:
“This is a good step forward, a necessary step forward, but we can’t let it distract us from the fact that they (state leaders) are not getting water to the lake, and this bill does not get water to the lake.”
— Chandler Rosenberg, deputy director of the Great Basin Water Network
Why this matters:
Advocates tout this as a potential shift in Utah's traditionally industry-friendly stance towards resource allocation and extractive development in the Great Salt Lake Basin. Critics contend that the legislation gives regulatory certainty to industry and does nothing to solve the ongoing western water crisis.
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Will a shrinking Colorado River shrivel the produce aisle?
The U.S. gets its leafy greens and other fresh produce from the Southwest in winter. Less Colorado River water could mean higher prices or more imported.
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The world’s essential aquifers are in deep trouble
New research finds that the groundwater systems that hydrate your life are in rapid, sometimes accelerating decline around the globe. Here’s how to stop the retreat.
Credit: Richard Crook/Flickr
Spanish minister hails deal to save Andalucía wetlands as a model for green transition
€1.4bn deal to protect Doñana national park will diversify local economy and stop farmers using aquifers to irrigate fruit crops.
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Image by Holger Schué from Pixabay
‘Green roads’ are plowing ahead, buffering drought and floods
As the developing world witnesses a boom in road building, a movement to retrofit existing roads is gathering steam. Using embankments, channels, and dikes, so-called “green roads” help control floods, harvest excess water for use in irrigation, and slash maintenance costs.
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