The Water Resources Control Board voted to go forward with sanctions against some Tulare County farmers – including up to $12 million in pumping fees –  after they failed to show they had made enough progress toward stemming subsidence, among other issues. More than 20 farmers from the Tule subbasin, which covers the southern half of Tulare County’s flatlands, appeared at the Water Board’s April 21 hearing on the issue. They made technical, tearful and even angry pleas that they be exempted from the sanctions, including the fees and a requirement that they report to the state how much they pump beginning May 1.  But, after a nearly five-hour hearing, the Water Board voted unanimously to deny the exemption requests.

Other groundwater regulation news:

• Monterey County Weekly (Seaside, Calif.): The clock is ticking on water projects to bring local groundwater basins into compliance
• KJZZ (Phoenix): Arizona water agency regulations that restricted homebuilding were illegal, judge rules
• Arizona Daily Star (Tucson): Judge: Arizona broke law in stopping new homes needing groundwater in Phoenix area
• AZ Mirror: Judge blocks Arizona water rule that halted new housing developments across the Valley