Groundwater for Butte

12/12/2024

Groundwater pumping and land conversion have devastated our Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs)—less than 6% of historical riparian vegetation and wetlands remain today (Bay Institute, 1998).
Our GDEs are what make Chico so beautiful: Bidwell Park, the riparian forests along the Sacramento River, and our vibrant urban forest. Being surrounded by greenery is what sets our city apart.
The Tuscan Water District threatens the health of these ecosystems. When groundwater levels drop below a certain threshold, trees begin to dry out and die. But there’s still a chance to prevent this. While Chico residents can’t vote, we can use our power to talk to farmers and share our concerns about the TWD. Like, share, donate, and sign up to volunteer at the link in our bio!

11/29/2024

Tonight, as we gather around the dinner table with our loved ones, let’s remember the people, the land, and the water that make our meals possible. 🌾💧

Butte County farmers are facing a critical threat: a few powerful corporations are attempting to take control of our groundwater—which our local farmers rely on to grow the food that fills our markets and our tables.

Right now, Chico is blessed with vibrant farmers markets, full of fresh, local produce. Let’s keep it that way.

Our goal is to raise $6,000 to fund informational mailers that will urge farmers to vote NO on Funding TWD and protect our water supply. We’re a third of the way there—help us reach the finish line! Every little bit counts. 💪

Link In Bio

11/26/2024

Welcome new followers! Many of you have been asking what’s the Tea on Tuscan Water District? Here is a brief analysis. You can find more details on our website!

What is the Tuscan Water District?

The TWD is a newly created water district in Butte County with a stated purpose to develop, construct, & operate facilities to purchase, import, move, recharge & transfer water. The Board will have the authority to conduct projects that could drop groundwater levels up to 200% beyond historical lows in the Vina Subbasin. This is too low for Valley Oak root systems, groundwater dependent species, trees, & urban forests such as Bidwell Park. The TWD was petitioned by the Agricultural Groundwater Users of Butte County, a private, members-only business group. Their goal is to continue using as much groundwater as always while claiming it will achieve compliance with State sustainability laws.

How does it work?

The TWD claims to be able to maintain groundwater levels by building infrastructure to speed up & artificially recharge the Subbasin. They plan to do this by pumping surface water & stormwater that is piped in from elsewhere, back into the ground. This is dangerous for 2 reasons:
1. Water Rights Could Flip, whoever pumps the water back into the ground could end up owning it. Property owners could lose ownership of groundwater and be denied the right to pump, or be forced to pay for the pumped water.
2. There’s little scientific evidence on the effects of artificial recharge and the “newly injected” water could lower the quality of the water in the aquifer.

How can we stop it?

The upcoming vote determines if property owners are taxed to fund TWD operating costs. To stop this, we need to persuade property owners to vote against taxing themselves to pay for the new water district. The TWD boundaries strategically exclude Chico & Durham residents from having a right to vote on this issue, but it’s up to all of us to stop it. We all depend on the same groundwater & these projects would affect everything & everyone who share it. Talk to your neighbors, friends & family. Link in bio to sign up to canvass or donate what you can. Together we can protect our groundwater.

Join us tonight at 5pm on KZFR to learn more!
https://www.kzfr.org/shows/ecotopia

09/23/2024

California has placed the Tule groundwater subbasin on probationary status, a step that brings additional state oversight, new fees and reporting requirements.

09/02/2024

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-09-02/court-ruling-could-limit-sonoma-groundwater-pumping

Siding with environmental groups, a judge has ruled that Sonoma County must take action to protect creeks and salmon from excessive groundwater pumping.

07/05/2024

Another case of big agribusiness bullying local communities in the age of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Be vigilant: These battles take on the same contours everywhere they spring up, including in Butte County. Big business does not and cannot care about the future. It wants the money right now.

A water rights lawsuit by giant carrot corporations, well into its third year, is driving up legal fees and gumming up the plans for sustainability, residents say

05/28/2024

The State DWR’s first significant crackdown on overpumping under SGMA, in Kern County, has been greeted by a lawsuit from that county’s Farm Bureau alleging government overreach. The farming community will obviously be hurt financially by limits on its groundwater pumping. But won’t the ruin of the groundwater basin hurt everyone even more, in the not-so-long run?

A lawsuit has been filed over California’s decision to take over monitoring groundwater use in part of the fertile San Joaquin Valley under a landmark law aimed at protecting the vital resource.

04/19/2024

Farm region near Tulare Lake has been put on ‘probation’ as overpumping of water has caused faster sinking of ground

04/16/2024

Having failed to rein in overpumping, Kern County is inching closer to the type of forced state regulation of groundwater that Butte County’s growers want to avoid at (almost) any cost. However, like here, Kern keeps expanding its acreage of thirsty nut crops.

Kings County agencies may face probation and millions in fines — which could be the first step toward the state wresting control of groundwater.

04/16/2024

Posting this because ag land buyers in our county may also be interested only in what water they can ship out to the highest bidder. The money payoff can be irresistible.

In an unprecedented deal, a private company purchased land in a tiny Arizona town – and sold its water rights to a suburb 200 miles away

01/28/2024

We’ve endorsed Joanna Warrens for Butte County District 4 Supervisor. Tod Kimmelshue has been too good a friend to hidden private interests.

water defenders, groundwater, tuscan water district, tuscan aquifer, water battle

01/25/2024

Our organization enthusiastically recommends voting for Joanna Warrens to replace Tod Kimmelshue as Butte County Supervisor, District 4.

water defenders, groundwater, tuscan water district, tuscan aquifer, water battle

12/27/2023

The pattern is always the same, and will repeat in Butte County if we do not change our political leadership. "Local control" of groundwater management inevitably results in the fox guarding the henhouse: Big pumpers locking up oversight away from the public, using public funds to protect their profligate crops regardless of the damage to groundwater basins.

The farm barons of Tulare Lake Basin want to continue pumping groundwater at volumes collapsing the San Joaquin Valley. That puts the region at greater risk of damaging floods — and in greater need of taxpayer bailouts.