A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has issued a tentative order that would excuse 115 small-scale landowners in California’s Cuyama Valley from a 2021 groundwater rights adjudication. The case was filed by land management companies linked to Grimmway Enterprises Inc. and Bolthouse Farms. Judge William F. Highberger said at a February 2 hearing that he wanted to give “minor extractors,” or small-scale water users, “as much of a free pass as possible.” He indicated he did not want to subject these growers to mandatory pumping reductions and legal costs that larger farming operations may face. The tentative order would also allow small-scale users to pump more water annually than their historical use, up to five acre-feet per year, subject to a collective cap of 400 acre-feet. Historically, this group has used about one acre-foot per user per year, or 132 acre-feet collectively. 

Other agricultural water news:

• SJV Water (Bakersfield, Calif.): State ethics enforcers to look into Modesto Irrigation District’s Larry Byrd for voting on own investigation
• SJV Water (Bakersfield, Calif.): Kings County groundwater agency issues flurry of well policies, will pay for meters
• SJV Water (Bakersfield, Calif.): Land easements can offer financial relief, flexibility and legacy
• Western FarmPress: Fresno Irrigation District wins battle against homeless encampments