Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

On Jan. 29, the Army Corps, which operates the dams at Kaweah and Success lakes, notified downstream users they were about to release water “at full capacity,” meaning as much as the rivers could handle.

“In the big picture, the amount of water was not huge. It was the process. He (President Trump) has no idea how bad he effed up.”

While many San Joaquin Valley towns were shrouded in tule fog, about 35 locals enjoyed a day under bright sunshine along a creekbed, dodging cowpies and traipsing through crunchy, golden sycamore leaves.

Two San Joaquin Valley water districts voted to break away from the Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency this month, clearing a path for them to form their own agencies and groundwater plans in the next six months.

As the date of reckoning for excessive groundwater pumping in Tulare County grows closer, lobbying by water managers and growers has ramped up.

Fallout over the ever sinking Friant-Kern Canal could affect growers throughout the Tule subbasin regardless of whether they get water from the canal.