Items Tagged with 'water rights reform in California'

Lawmakers have until Jan. 19 to curry more votes or amend their bills to ease opposition to get them out of committee.

Democrats in the Legislature have been advancing three bills proposing to reform the court adjudication process for determining groundwater rights and to limit new agricultural wells.

The Legislature is advancing a bill to halt water grabs by hedge fund investors and venture capitalists, raising fears of upending transfer markets.

Fueled by a series of recommendations from law scholars, legislators have filed measures to overhaul aspects of California’s water rights system to set new priorities for the environment and for disadvantaged communities.

Reforming water rights would divert critical resources to court fees instead of groundwater sustainability, says Tulare Irrigation District General Manager Aaron Fukuda.