Region: South Lahontan
Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority digests water rights
From the Ridgecrest Independent:
“The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority’s policy advisory committee received a comprehensive legal rundown and case history on water rights Thursday night.
In a two-hour meeting, Groundwater Authority special legal counsel Jim Markman highlighted different scenarios, described the difference between overlying water rights (essentially pumping over the land one owns) and appropriators rights (those held by agencies like the IWV Water District), discussed adjudication and possible outcomes for achieving sustainability.
Markman said his task “is to pull all the interests in this basin and have everyone understand their strengths and possible weaknesses of their claims for water production rights,” not advocating for any one group’s water rights or priorities. … “
Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority digests water rights
Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority board updated on pump fee, Prop. 1 grant status
From the Ridgecrest Independent:
“Things are pacing along with the Department of Water Resources as the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority awaits final authorization on a set of Proposition 1 grants, according to the agency’s water resources manager.
Steve Johnson, president of Stetson Engineers, Inc. and the Groundwater Authority’s water resources manager, provided an update to the agency’s board of directors on Aug. 16. He noted that revised agreements have been submitted to the state before it executes the $2.1 million grant agreement. … “
Owens Valley
Owens Valley – Fish Slough
Antelope Valley
Tehachapi Valley East
Owens Valley Groundwater Authority comes of age
From Sierra Wave:
“The decision to go high or low was more than a political strategy popularized by Michele Obama. For the Owens Valley Groundwater Authority it represented a total commitment to groundwater sustainability under state regulations.
Here’s the deal: the Owens Valley groundwater basin was ranked as a medium priority, requiring the development of a groundwater agency and sustainability plan. Local use would have landed the basin in the low category but the exports by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power landed the valley in the medium range. … “
Indian Wells Valley Water district weighs in on Groundwater Authority
From the Ridgecrest Independent:
“The Indian Wells Valley Water District board offered up its thoughts on the IWV Groundwater Authority ahead of the latter agency’s meeting today.
At the heart of those concerns was the continued request for a standing finance committee and questions on the Groundwater Authority’s budget as it prepares a groundwater sustainability plan for the IWV basin.
Peter Brown, the Water District’s representative on the board, said he submitted questions on the budget back in June. … “
Continue reading at the Ridgecrest Independent by clicking here.
Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority meets Thursday
From the Ridgecrest Independent:
“The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority board of directors may face a light agenda as it meets Thursday morning.
According to the agenda packet, the Groundwater Authority board will hear from Steve Johnson of Stetson Engineers, who acts as the agency’s water resources manager.
Johnson will also report on the status of the agency’s Proposition 1 grant that it was awarded from the state, reports on the status and schedule of the groundwater extraction fee adopted in July and the first draft of a GSP outline. … “