Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

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.