San Joaquin Valley leads as groundwater levels improve
Meanwhile, groundwater levels rose by more than 5 feet in 52% of monitored wells. Groundwater levels remained steady in 44% of wells and declined by 5 feet or more in 4% of wells. “California is invested in preparing for weather extremes by maximizing the wet years to store as much water as pos- sible in preparation for the dry years,” Paul Gosselin, DWR deputy director of sustainable water management said in a statement. “The impressive recharge numbers in
2023 are the result of hard work by the local agencies combined with dedicated efforts from the state, but we must do more to be prepared to capture and store water when the wet years come,” he added. Officials said the 2023 water year was the first since 2019 with an increase in groundwater storage. There was also a reduction in subsidence, or land sinking, which was credited to reduced pumping from aquifers. The groundwater report said some areas even saw an increase in surface elevation.
Sessions to ready farmers, ranchers for the fire season Farm and ranch property owners can learn about wildfire preparedness through a two-part webinar series of- fered by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network team. The sessions will feature UC Cooperative Extension fire advisor Luca Carmignani and UC forest advisor Yana Valachovic. A webinar on ranch hardening and wildfire preparedness strategies for ag- ricultural structures will be held May 21, from 6 to 7 p.m. A webinar on managing livestock health during wildfire events will be held May 28, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. To register and receive email links for the webinars, visit https://bit.ly/3y1MbuP. Participants must register by May 20. UC cattle health webinar series available online A cattle health webinar series presented by the University of California Cooperative Extension and the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is available online. The series includes sessions on beef cattle mineral health, neonatal beef calf health, artificial insemination tips for herd improvement, and prevention and vac- cines for foothill abortion. “Producers big and small can gain knowledge to improve the health of their cattle and increase beef production on their ranch from this educational series,” said Gaby Maier of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The presentations are available at ucanr. edu/sites/Rangelands/CattleHealth. Efforts to recharge aquifers following last year’s storms significantly boost- ed groundwater levels, according to the California Department of Water Resources. The agency’s groundwater conditions report, released May 6, said aquifers were replenished with 4.1 million acre-feet of water during California’s 2023 water year. The total amount of groundwater recharge was nearly equal to the capacity of Shasta Lake, the state’s largest reservoir. According to the report, 93% of the state- wide groundwater recharge occurred in the San Joaquin Valley agricultural region. As rising reservoir levels from rain and snowmelt translated to increased surface-water deliveries for agriculture,
groundwater pumping dropped markedly, the report said. Groundwater extraction statewide plummeted from 17 million acre-feet pumped in the 2022 water year to 9.5 million acre-feet in the 2023 water year, with the San Joaquin Valley accounting for more than half the statewide reduction.
PUBLISHED NOTICE CALIFORNIA NOTICE OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT
If you purchased Super S Super Trac 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid, Super S 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid, CAM2 Promax 303 Tractor Hydraulic Oil, and/or CAM2 303 Tractor Hydraulic Oil in California between December 1, 2013, and December 31, 2021, you may be a member of a class action that has been certified by a Federal Judge. A Federal District Court has certified this case to proceed as a class action on behalf of all purchasers of Super S Super Trac 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid, Super S 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid, CAM2 Promax 303 Tractor Hydraulic Oil, and/or CAM2 303 Tractor Hydraulic Oil (“Smitty’s/CAM2 303”) in California who meet the class definition. The lawsuit is part of a Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”) that is pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. The MDL is captioned: In Re: Smitty’s/CAM2 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid Marketing, Sales Practices, and Product Liability Litigation , MDL No. 2936, Case No. 4:20-MD-02936-SRB (U.S. Dist. Court, W.D. Mo.). You are a member of the California Class if you purchased Smitty’s/CAM2 303 in California between December 1, 2013, and December 31, 2021 (“California Class Period”). The Court’s Order also created a California Consumer Legal Remedies Act (“CLRA”) Sub-Class. You are a member of the CLRA Sub- Class only if you purchased Smitty’s/CAM2 303 in California for personal, family, or household purposes during the California Class Period. For certain exceptions to class membership, see the California Long Form Notice at www.cam2supers303tractorhydraulicfluidclassaction.com. The California Class Plaintiffs have sued Smitty’s Supply, Inc., and CAM2 International, LLC, (“Manufacturer Defendants”), alleging that they were negligent, breached express warranties, were unjustly enriched, and violated the California Unfair Competition Law, California False and Misleading Advertising, and the CLRA. Manufacturer Defendants have denied the allegations and all claims of wrongdoing. A jury has not yet decided which side will prevail. A California Long Form Notice, as well as more information on the lawsuit, the class definition, and your options are available at www.cam2supers303tractorhydraulicfluidclassaction.com or by calling (866) 742-4955. You do not need to do anything to remain in the California Class or Subclass.
Anyone wanting to exclude oneself must take action and mail in an exclusion request by July 1, 2024. For an exclusion form and details on how to exclude yourself, see www.cam2supers303tractorhydraulicfluidclassaction.com or the California Long Form Notice. You may request a California Long Form Notice be mailed to you by calling (866) 742-4955.
May 15, 2024 Ag Alert 21
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