Kern subbasin’s third try at groundwater plan fails to avert state enforcement action
Noting that Kern County residents could suffer “urgent impacts” to their drinking water from continued agricultural groundwater overpumping, staff at the state Water Resources Control Board announced Thursday they are recommending the entire Kern subbasin be put on probation. Probation is the first step toward a possible state pumping take over. A hearing before the Water Board is set for Feb. 20, 2025. The finding was a blow to area water managers who had hoped a new groundwater plan submitted in May would address concerns about its 2022 plan, which was deemed inadequate in 2023. Managers of Kern’s 20 groundwater sustainability agencies had worked since then to revamp the plan.
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