For the first time, growers in one of California’s most acutely water-stressed areas have to reveal how much groundwater they are pumping. For generations, they’ve been free to take water from wells on their own land without reporting to it the state. The State Water Resources Control Board ordered landowners in parts of the San Joaquin Valley around Corcoran and Pixley to submit detailed reports by Friday. The Tule and Tulare Lake groundwater subbasins were put on probation by the board in 2024 because they weren’t doing enough to control excessive pumping, which has caused levels to plummet. By collecting the data, the agency is preparing to charge landowners fees — $300 for each well plus a usage fee of $20 for each acre-foot of water.

Other groundwater news around the West:

• KJZZ (Phoenix): Appeals court won’t force Arizona to review water use near upper San Pedro River​
• Tucson Sentinel (Ariz.): Copper World failed to disclose well drilling; State auctions land for mine tailings​