Some of California’s largest agricultural water districts are facing a lawsuit that would force them to measure how much water farmers use.
The 2009 law was designed to push the state’s biggest water users to conserve by closely monitoring their use. Then, the state’s agricultural water districts are supposed to charge the farmers, at least in part, based on that use.
But the state doesn’t actually know how many agricultural water districts are meeting the new requirements or even inching toward doing so, because more than 20 of them have failed to turn in what’s called a water management plan. The plans were due more than 18 months ago.
The Environmental Law Foundation, an Oakland nonprofit, sent letters Friday to the management of nearly two dozen districts that the state listed as not following the law. With the state facing a historic drought, the nonprofit is threatening legal action before the end of the month if districts don’t prove they’re complying.
http://cironline.org/reports/california-water-districts-face-suit-ignoring-conservation-law-6547