A lawsuit over whether the Madera County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) improperly conducted an election to assess fees on more than 900 parcels of land to pay for groundwater projects will continue, according to a judge’s ruling issued Thursday. However, an injunction that had prevented those fees from being collected for nearly three years was also lifted by Madera County Superior Court Judge Eric LiCalsi. LiCalsi did not prevent the fees from being assessed retroactively, which would be a huge financial hit to farmers. In the Madera subbasin, fees are $246 per acre, per year. In the Delta-Mendota subbasin, the fees are $183.

Other groundwater news:

• Lodi News-Sentinel (Calif.): Inaction on groundwater levels could leave Lodi-area basin exposed to state control
• Santa Barbara Independent: News release: Montecito GSA Groundwater Sustainability Plan approved
• Sustainable Conversation: Blog: How Executive Order N-16-25 enables recharge during floods
• The Sentinel (Hanford, Calif.): Opinion: SGMA remains a top concern for Tulare Lake Subbasin Growers
• The Modesto Bee (Calif.): Modesto-area residents most impacted by contamination get free well testing, bottled water
• Arizona Capitol Times (Phoenix): 45 years after the Groundwater Management Act, one of its architects reflects on the landmark legislation