Growers in a small western Fresno County region are falling out over groundwater, specifically who should be entitled to how much. And accusations have started piling up against the Pleasant Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) board president, Jimmy Anderson. Some farmers say Anderson has manipulated groundwater credits for his own benefit, creating a captive market to sell water and setting up smaller farmers for failure. The problem, they say, is a groundwater allocation policy that Anderson instituted after he came on the board in January. That policy gives water credits to land parcels based on historical use versus a per-acre, equal spread as is common in other GSAs. That gave large landowners, like Anderson, more credits regardless of how the land is now being used.

Other groundwater management news:

• SJV Water (Bakersfield, Calif.): Farmer wanted: A Tulare County land trust is seeking a new board member​