California State Resources Control Board consolidates irrigation district hearings

The California State Resources Control Board announced this week that it has consolidated and rescheduled the hearings for the West Side Irrigation District (WSID) and the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID).

The first phase of both hearings will begin on Feb. 8, with a joint pre-hearing conference. The process will continue with the consolidated portion of the hearings, which is scheduled to begin on March 21 and continue from March 22 to 25, March 28-30, April 1-4, and on April 6, depending on how much time is needed. Both irrigation districts will also have a second phase of hearings, which will be conducted separately and are set to begin following the first phase.

The hearings are related to water diversions by WSID and BBID, and the first phase will see the control board receive evidence pertaining to the charges. The WSID faces a cease and desist order over its actions on the Old River tributary of the San Joaquin River, while the BBID faces an administrative civil liability for its use of the Intake Channel to the Banks Pumping Plant in Contra Costa County.