Drought and regulatory restrictions on state water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta have certainly played a role, said Eric Averett, general manager of Rosedale Rio-Bravo Water Storage District.
But the real culprits are the Kern Water Bank and Pioneer Project groundwater banks, which have pulled out so much water so fast that they have changed how water moves under the sprawling district west of Bakersfield, he said.
Rosedale has filed lawsuits against both groundwater banks.
Kern County Water Agency, which owns the Pioneer Project and is a partner in the Kern Water Bank Authority, denies that the banks are causing the problem.
The Rosedale’s water supply may recover soon: the State Water Project has indicated that it will distribute at least 50 percent of its contracted water to districts throughout the state, so less water should be needed from the banking projects.
READ THIS STORY AT BAKERSFIELD.COM
Drought and regulatory restrictions on state water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta have certainly played a role, said Eric Averett, general manager of Rosedale Rio-Bravo Water Storage District.
But the real culprits are the Kern Water Bank and Pioneer Project groundwater banks, which have pulled out so much water so fast that they have changed how water moves under the sprawling district west of Bakersfield, he said.
Rosedale has filed lawsuits against both groundwater banks.
Kern County Water Agency, which owns the Pioneer Project and is a partner in the Kern Water Bank Authority, denies that the banks are causing the problem.
The Rosedale’s water supply may recover soon: the State Water Project has indicated that it will distribute at least 50 percent of its contracted water to districts throughout the state, so less water should be needed from the banking projects.
READ THIS STORY AT BAKERSFIELD.COM
