Groundwater pumping by nearby farms sank California's Friant-Kern Canal
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
The federal canal lost about 60 percent of its capacity, and repairs were put at about 1 billion dollars, High Country News reported. Eastern Tule farmers rejected a per-acre repair fee in 2022, and in 2024 the state placed the subbasin on probation.
- Large farms without surface water rights, growing grapes, almonds and pistachios — Kept pumping groundwater; the repair payment is tied to pumping fees SJV Water
- Residents of Tooleville, a community of about 290 people beside the canal — Wells drying up; a resident said they had seen no benefit High Country News
What happened
Subsidence caused by pumping on nearby farms cut the Friant-Kern Canal's capacity by about 60 percent, and repairs were put at about 1 billion dollars (High Country News, 8 December 2021).
The Friant Water Authority collected over 400 million dollars from federal grants, loans and over-pumping farms, and asked that the last third be paid by state taxpayers.
In 2022 Eastern Tule farmers rejected a fee of 140 dollars per acre by more than 80 percent of votes, and the debt was tied to pumping fees (SJV Water, 5 July 2022).
In September 2024 the state water board placed the Tule subbasin on probation, with large pumpers to pay 300 dollars per well and 20 dollars per acre-foot (Ag Alert, 25 September 2024).
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
Insurers
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- None on record The sources reviewed do not say whether the Eastern Tule payment deal was revised or the lawsuit between the water districts and the agency was resolved.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not give the well repair or water supply costs for Tooleville residents.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not give the total federal repair bill.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Press and investigations
- South water: who should pay to fix California's sunken canalsHigh Country News · 2021-12-08
- State water board agrees on probation for Tule subbasinAg Alert · 2024-09-25