Groundwater Levels: Groundwater levels in Visalia have continued to drop. The static groundwater level has dropped about 130 feet since 1948. Of that total drop, the level has dropped about 100 feet in the last three decades and 35 feet since 2010. California Water Service’s April 2017 aggregate static well water readings indicated the groundwater level had risen to 132 feet in April, but dropped to 135 feet in June of 2017. By comparison, the static well reading in Visalia in June of 2016 was 138. June 2017’s reading was still up 7 feet from the allVolume 16 • 17 August, 2017 time lowXXXVII of 142 inNo. October of 2016.
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HCCA to TRMC Board Majority: Prepare for Legal Action Cease and desist, the hospital management company demands. Meanwhile, a founding member of the hospital’s Medical Executive Committee resigned in protest of the move.
Officials with Healthcare ConglomTony Maldonado erate Associates (HCCA) have made it clear that they’re not pleased with Tulare may be meetings, but they’re not board Local Healthcare District board members meetings, says Dr. Benny Benzeevi, Kevin Northcraft, Mike Jamaica and Se- CEO of HCCA. “[… T]here was no board meeting novia Gutierrez’ string of special meetings. They’ve brought in the big guns to [Wednesday],” Benzeevi said. “The meeting that was held had no legal authority bring the point home. The company has retained the ser- whatsoever. It’s not a matter of opinion, vices of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, a but rather, is clearly delineated by the law law firm headquartered in San Francisco; and practice.” The recent groundwater level drop is surprising given the amount of water flow and recharge It also states that the three have “dethe firm sent the three a cease and desist Visalia’s water depth was 20 feet below surface level in 1987. It’s now 135 feet below surface that has been occurring in and around Visalia. In addition, farmers in the area have been using famed and maligned [Dr. Benny Benzeevi letter Wednesday. level -- and trending deeper. Courtesy/City of Visalia significant amounts of surface water for irrigation, which means less groundwater pumping by tackles the issue of the and HCCA] without just cause, and with The letter agriculture than in recent years. Usage Patterns two special meetings, one held July 27, great damage to their reputations and and the most recent on August 9. Those California Water Service provided water delivery figures for 2010 through June 2017. Staff PREPARE continued on 8 » looked specifically at the figures in 2013, as the drought conditions were becoming more prevalent and the State began implementing regulations. Total water usage decreased initially, lowing favor of the change but began Doe to rise in the latter part of 2016 and suit. earlyThose 2017.inVisalia’s total water consumption in Catherine also said the current restrictions don’t gallons was: It didn’t happen without a fight, but make sense because California just had Visalia residents Total can Used now water 2013 their a wet2014 year. 2015 2016 2017 lawns three days a week instead of two. brothFirst 6 months 4.7 billion 4.4Councilmember bilion 3.7 billionNelsen’s 3.5 billion 3.7 billionFarmersville recently unanimously Nancy Vigran voted to move forward with an urban At its August 7 meeting, Visalia City er was for the change while the counYear Total 10.6 billion 9.6 billion 8.09 billion 8.4 billion years, the creek has been a dump Council voted 3-2 to change to Stage cilmember was not. His brother lament- stream project which would improve the site for trash and waste. 1 from Stage 2 of the Water Conserva- ed the fact that the area has a massive Deep Creek waterway, as well as providThe Consolidated People’s Ditch ing a walking trail along its banks. tion Ordinance. Stage 1 allows residents amount of water, some of which just Company (CPDC) has water rights for The $756,000 project is funded to water three days per week March flows into the ocean. Though Nelsen was through November, and one day per the only member of the public to speak through State of California Department Deep Creek. The company provides week December through February. in favor of increased watering, he spoke of Water Resources, in a grant award- routine maintenance to the waterway to ensure that water Some disgruntled residents who for a group of residents in the audience. ed in 2015, said moves freely and Manager wanted the restrictions loosened, notOf the 10 major cities in the South City efficiently for ed that other South Valley cities have Valley seven are on three days per week John Jansons. irrigation purIn its early increased their irrigation days to three irrigation schedules. For these reasons poses. However, stages planning and questioned why Visalia wasn’t fol- WATER continued on 9 » according to the and environmenreport, the restotal impact studies ration that Deep are first taking Creek requires place. The work is beyond what on the waterway CPDC is responwill most likesible for or even ly begin within its capabilities. six months deDespite the lure of millions of dollars in Catherine Doe “Deep Creek pendent upon sales tax revenues from dispensaries or has never underDuring the November 2016 elec- the professional cultivation, the majority the irrigation gone a thorough tion, 54% of Visalians voted against of larger communities have decided to flow end of searestoration. It is legalizing recreational pot. Their city take a pass. Fresno along with the entire son, he added. long overdue,” council was listening. Deep Creek county has also voted for the same ban. the report said. The city council voted 5-0 to ban That decision, along with Visalia’s, is a natural waThis will the sale and cultivation of pot within the could prove a boon to the smaller Valley terway. The imtake place along city limits at its August 7 meeting. The communities that have recently hit hard provements will Farmersville’s Deep Creek will soon receive a long-overdue restoration including a walking path two primary segrestrictions apply to medical and recre- financial times trying to balance their take place along along the levy. Nancy Vigran/Valley Voice ments of the 2.9 ational marijuana. budgets. They have had to cut services a 2.9 mile area The Tulare County Board of Su- and lay off city personnel because a lack from Walnut Ave. on the north to Ash miles within the city, which are of special concern to residents and city leaders. pervisors have also prohibited all com- of revenue or huge bills. St. on the south, within city limit. Approximately 80 residential propmercial recreational marijuana activity, This is in response to three primary Coalinga was the first South Valley outdoor cultivation at private residences, community to legalize the commercial problems, according to staff reports, hav- erties back up to the creek within city and limits indoor grows to six plants, cultivation of pot, and it has been the ing arisen within the past 20 or so years: limits and the restoration will assuage which is the rule under Proposition 64. • Erosion and flood risk – the concerns of safety. only so far in the Valley to approve of a Included in the plan will be a walkThe new law allows cities and coun- pot dispensary within the city. Coalinga creek is shallower than it ing trail along the levy, Jansons said. ties to decide for themselves if they want has since sold almost all of its industrial used to be due to erosion and The route can be utilized for exerto allow dispensaries or professional park to large commercial pot growers. sedimentation cultivation. The ban does not interfere • Environmental issues – non-na- cise, or as an attractive alternative route The hoped for tax windfall has been with an individual’s right to use recre- slower than expected because of the tive invasive plants have taken within the city A community educational outreach ational pot. over, “choking out” native plants heavy strain on their small town elecprogram, Keep Deep Creek Clean, is inMany Valley cities are in the process trical grid. along with banks of the creek. of deciding what to do about the new • Stewardship – through the cluded the funding. law, but all have started the discussion. POT continued on 8 »
Visalia City Council Relaxes Watering Restrictions
Visalia City Council Says No to Cultivation, Sale of Pot
Farmersville, Armed with Grant, to Improve Deep Creek