Navigating water politics: 9 stories from San Joaquin Valley
The articles collectively highlight the complexities and challenges of water politics in the San Joaquin Valley. The issues primarily revolve around water management, rights, environmental impacts, and infrastructure development. Notably, they also explore new proposals raising water storage capacity, legal disputes in agriculture, and the potential impact of these developments on local communities.
In one report, Central Valley water managers express concern over a sudden water release initiated by an executive order, which causes friction with federal directives aimed at combating wildfires. This decision perplexes Tulare County water managers due to logistical constraints and ownership of water rights. Another article discusses the $1.1 billion plan to expand the San Luis Reservoir to increase water storage capacity by 130,000 acre-feet. The benefits principally favor regions outside the San Joaquin Valley, sparking discussions on resource allocation between different parts of California. Additionally, a large grower in the Valley faces a $105 million lawsuit over defaulted loans, with potential repercussions for large swaths of agricultural land across several counties. This highlights the legal and financial entanglements tied to water and land ownership in the region.
NO. 1: CALIFORNIA DAM RAISE WOULD TAKE MORE DELTA WATER. WHY ARE ENVIRONMENTALISTS SILENT? | OPINION
Opinion by Marek Warszawski: “Unlike every other dam project in California, this one was approved with little public scrutiny and zero opposition.” | Published August 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Marek Warszawski
NO. 2: HUGE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY RESERVOIR IS EXPANDING. MUCH OF THE WATER IS HEADED ELSEWHERE | OPINION
Opinion by Marek Warszawski: “The benefits will be felt to a much greater degree in Silicon Valley.” | Published September 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Marek Warszawski
NO. 3: SOLUTION TO CALIFORNIA’S WATER STORAGE NEEDS LIES UNDERGROUND, NOT MORE DAMS | OPINION
Opinion by Marek Warszawski: “Water structure built for the 2020s and beyond must adapt to the new climate reality.” | Published September 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Marek Warszawski
NO. 4: PG&E SHOULDN’T BE PERMITTED TO ENDANGER PUBLIC SAFETY AT SAN JOAQUIN RIVER GORGE | OPINION
Opinion by Marek Warszawski: “In the span of 15 minutes, a relative trickle can become raging torrent.” | Published November 17, 2024 | Read Full Story by Marek Warszawski
NO. 5: CEMEX WANTS TO BLAST A 600-FOOT DEEP PIT ALONG SAN JOAQUIN RIVER. WE MUST STOP THEM | OPINION
Opinion by Marek Warszawski: “Fresno County residents have rallied for the environment in the not-too-distant past.” | Published January 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Marek Warszawski
NO. 6: CENTRAL VALLEY WATER MANAGERS REACT TO TRUMP’S SUDDEN WATER RELEASE: ‘IT’S WRONG’
“I have no idea if this is the new norm for operations or not. I certainly hope not,” one irrigation district GM said. | Published February 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lois Henry, SJV Water
NO. 7: LARGE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY GROWER FACES A $105 MILLION LAWSUIT OVER DEFAULTED LOANS
John Vidovich is being sued by U.S. National Bank, according to nonprofit news outlet SJV Water | Published March 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lois Henry
NO. 8: OWNER OF OLD FIG GARDEN GOLF COURSE WILL ALLOW PUBLIC ACCESS TO FRESNO RIVERFRONT
The owner has long planned to build estates on the 140-acre property. | Published July 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Erik Galicia
NO. 9: USING FLOODWATERS TO COMBAT GROUNDWATER LOSS IN FRESNO AND THE CENTRAL VALLEY | OPINION
“We must be better prepared next time the big floods come, and it is only a matter of time before they do come again.” | Published July 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tom Holyoke Laura Ramos
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.