Court Delays Hearing, Blocks State from Collecting Groundwater Fees in Tulare Lake Subbasin Case

Hanford, California — The Kings County Farm Bureau (KCFB) appeared in court on Tuesday, April 15, 2026, in its ongoing case against the State Water Resources Control Board regarding the State’s actions in the Tulare Lake Subbasin.

The hearing was scheduled as a procedural step to allow both parties to provide information to the court and to set a future date for the case now that a new judge has been assigned after the State Board disqualified the previous judge. While the court calendar required extending the date for hearing the Preliminary Injunction, KCFB characterized the outcome as a positive development overall.

The court will hear KCFB’s request for a Preliminary Injunction on June 3 because of scheduling constraints. As a result, groundwater users in the Tulare Lake Subbasin must still submit their pumping reports to the State Water Resources Control Board by May 1.

However, the court enjoined the State Board from collecting any fees related to the reports until the Preliminary Injunction can be heard.  Additionally, the court ruled that stringent requirements for meters, calibration, and measurement do not control this reporting; rather, the court included the State Board’s commitment that it will accept best estimates for reporting.  The court made clear its direction was not based on a ruling against KCFB or a determination on the merits of the case. Rather, it is a function of the court’s calendar. The judge acknowledged the constraints of the situation and indicated that the decision was driven by timing, not the underlying legal arguments.

“This is a meaningful outcome for growers,” said Dusty Ference, Executive Director. “While reporting will move forward for now, the court has ensured that the State cannot impose financial penalties until the legal issues are properly heard and decided.”

The June 3 hearing will be a critical next step, as the court will consider whether to grant a Preliminary Injunction that would further limit the State’s ability to enforce its probationary actions and collect fees while the case proceeds.

KCFB’s lawsuit challenges the State’s designation of the Tulare Lake Subbasin and raises broader questions about the scope of the Board’s authority under California law.

KCFB will continue to provide updates as the case progresses.