California officials voted Tuesday to step in to monitor groundwater use in part of the crop-rich San Joaquin Valley in a first-of-its-kind move that comes a decade after local communities were tasked with managing the precious but strained resource.
The State Water Resources Control Board voted unanimously to start overseeing groundwater pumping in the Tulare Lake Subbasin meaning state, not local officials, will temporarily watch how much water can be pumped from the ground.
It's the first area in California to go through this process under the state's landmark groundwater law that aims to keep water flowing sustainably after years of drought and overpumping has led to problems with groundwater quality and the sinking of land. California's law tasked local communities with forming agencies and drafting groundwater management plans to reach a sustainable use of the resource for years to come.
Groundwater accounts for nearly 40% of California’s water supply in an average year and even more in dry years, according to the state board.
The move, which came after an all-day hearing in Sacramento, was met with criticism from Kings County farmers and support from water rights advocates who said they want to protect the future of drinking water for poor, rural communities. Many farmers said the state should do more to channel rivers into water storage facilities to replenish groundwater basins rather than cutting back.
“Farmers understand if these plans move forward it will force them many of them out of business,” Lynne McBride, executive director of the California Dairy Campaign, told the state board. “The ripple effects of these potential fees, fines and regulations will be vast and potentially irreversible.”
Farmers are by far the largest pumpers of groundwater in the region, but small towns and rural residents also rely on the subbasin for drinking water in their homes. Mac Glackin of the environmental group Clean Water Action said the move to put the subbasin on so-called probationary status is warranted.
“Taking this step holds us accountable to the human right to water, climate justice and racial equity,” Glackin said.
Within 90 days, anyone who pumps groundwater in the region must record the amount they remove, report it to the state board and pay fees. If a more sustainable plan isn't developed within a year, the board could hold another public hearing and impose restrictions on pumping and fine those who take more than they are allocated, the board said in a statement after the vote.
“Groundwater supplies in the Tulare Lake basin are clearly at risk, and we are acting today to protect this resource because communities rely on it for basic needs, in particular drinking water,” Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the State Water Board, said in a statement.
Five local agencies in the region worked on a single groundwater management proposal, only to see it rejected last year by the state Department of Water Resources over concerns about lowering groundwater levels, sinking land and degrading groundwater quality.
The Tulare Lake Subbasin covers a stretch of Kings County, which is home to about 150,000 people halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The county is a major producer of milk, pistachios, cotton and processed tomatoes, according to a county agricultural report.
It’s also home to Tulare Lake, a large, dry basin that fills with water in rainy years. The lake most recently reappeared in 2023 after intense winter downpours that flooded farms and roads.
Doug Freitas, an almond grower who owns property in areas governed by three different groundwater agencies, said each agency has been talking about what to do next. He said he knew about the state’s groundwater law, but like most small farmers, he was so busy trying to make ends meet that he couldn’t foresee the impact.
“As a farmer, my opinion is we need more time,” Freitas said before the hearing.
Joaquin Contente, a longtime dairy farmer in Kings County, said pumping fees and caps will spell trouble for him, whether they are imposed by local or state officials. He relies on groundwater to grow the alfalfa he feeds his 800 cattle.
“I know there’s a lot of people losing sleep over it, because I am one of them,” Contente said.
FILE - Twilight settles in over the North Fork Kings River in the Island District of Lemoore, Calif., as the sun sets over the horizon on April 19, 2023. California officials are considering whether to take over monitoring groundwater use in the fertile San Joaquin Valley under a landmark law aimed at protecting water flow to homes and farms. The Tuesday, April 16, 2024, hearing before the State Water Resources Control Board is the first of its kind since California passed a groundwater management law a decade ago. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
FILE - Sandbags are stacked around a well in anticipation of flooding of the Kings River in the Island District of Lemoore, Calif., April 19, 2023. California officials are considering whether to take over monitoring groundwater use in the fertile San Joaquin Valley under a landmark law aimed at protecting water flow to homes and farms. The Tuesday, April 16, 2024, hearing before the State Water Resources Control Board is the first of its kind since California passed a groundwater management law a decade ago. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray overcame a strained left calf, management's suggestion he sit this one out and another haymaker from the Los Angeles Lakers to score 32 points and sink the game-winner with 3.6 seconds left Monday night.
That sent LeBron James to his earliest playoff exit ever and the Denver Nuggets tottering into Round 2 with a 108-106 win in Game 5 that featured 16 lead changes and 10 ties and was only secured when Taurean Prince's halfcourt heave fell short as time expired.
“Shout-out to the Lakers, they gave us a great series,” said Murray, who also hit franchise's first playoff buzzer-beater in Game 2.
“Those are shots that you dream of as a little kid,” said Murray, who called this one just “a little better.”
If not for his dogged determination — and defiance — Murray never would have had the chance to seal the series.
“I came in a little earlier today to see if I was going to be able to go, and I felt like I could and they just didn't want me to risk it,” recounted Murray, who warmed up with an ice pack strapped to his injured calf. "They told me no. They told me no.
"And I didn't say no. I didn't want to leave my teammates out there,” added Murray, who missed 23 games due to injury in 2023-24. “We've been battling all season. Everybody's hurt at some point, everybody's going through something and I just wouldn't be able to live with myself if I wasn't able to play this game.
”I'm just glad they listened to me — and listened to me listening to my body — and just trusting me with it."
James' two free throws tied it at 106 with 26 seconds left and the Nuggets, just as they did in Game 2, eschewed the timeout and Murray took the ball on a high screen-and-roll to his left, shaking Austin Reaves as he crossed through the lane and swishing the 14-footer.
“That kid’s a warrior, man," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "The bigger the moment, the kid just continues to shine.”
Nikola Jokic, who committed an uncharacteristic seven turnovers, narrowly missed his 19th career playoff triple-double with 25 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists and Michael Porter Jr. scored 26.
James had 30 points and 11 assists and Anthony Davis had 17 points and 15 rebounds but appeared bothered down the stretch after banging his left shoulder into MPJ in the second half.
The Nuggets advanced to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round starting next weekend. That series starts in Denver, where the Nuggets are a Western Conference-best 36-8, including 3-0 in the playoffs.
Not that it was been easy.
The Nuggets trailed for about three-fourths of the minutes in this series, they scuffled through extended shooting slumps and they're a banged-up bunch that can definitely use the rest.
“First of all, tip your hat to them,” James said. “Defending champions. They’re great team. Super-well coached and made the plays down the stretch to win the series. You give credit where credit is due, that’s for sure.”
Davis matched Murray’s 16 first-half points and the Lakers led 53-50 at halftime. They pushed that advantage to nine points but the Nuggets closed on a 21-10 run to take an 81-79 lead into the fourth quarter that was tight until the buzzer.
The Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in the Western Conference finals last summer on their way to winning the franchise's first NBA championship, beat the Lakers for the 12th time in their last 13 games.
The only other time James was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs came in 2021 when the Phoenix Suns beat L.A. in six games.
So, this was the shortest of James' 17 trips to the playoffs despite the Lakers taking the reigning champs to the brink in all five games.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our crew despite everything that happened,” said Lakers coach Darvin Ham, who's sure to be on the hot seat. “Obviously, the series didn’t go in our favor, didn’t start the way we wanted it to, but to win that one at home, fight tooth and nail today to get this one, our guys showed a lot of guts and a lot of character."
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Denver Nuggets assistant coach Popeye Jones, left, hugs guard Jamal Murray after Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers Monday, April 29, 2024, in Denver. Murray scored 32 points despite a strained calf and sank the game-winner with 3.6 seconds left to win over the Lakers. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) checks the scoreboard in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, fields a pass as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, tries to make a steal in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 29, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) reacts after hitting the game-winning basket as forward Michael Porter Jr. looks on in the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers Monday, April 29, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray looks back at the Los Angeles Lakers bench after hitting a 3-point basket late in the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 29, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, left, drives to the basket as Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, right, defends in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 29, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, drives to the basket as Los Angeles Lakers guard Spencer Dinwiddie, left, defends in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 29, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
