The Kern-Tulare Water District in northeastern Kern County is asking the state to take a closer look at what it says is excessive pumping in a so-called “whiteland” area that is harming its own groundwater supplies. Representatives of the Eastside Water Management Area (EWMA), meanwhile, say the group is working through a laborious process to get the legal authority and funding to take action on over pumping. It was “surprised and disappointed” by Kern-Tulare’s April 20 letter to the Department of Water Resources’ Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) department, a spokesman said at the Kern Non-Districted Lands April 27 meeting where the dispute spilled over.

Other groundwater news:

• The Fresno Bee (Calif.): State board denies Tulare farmers request to be exempt from up to $12M in pumping fees