TEHACHAPI, CA - Farmers will soon have to pay more for water in Tehachapi's Cummings Valley. With drought taking a toll on our county, Tehachapi Cummings Water District officials said they'll have to tap into stored groundwater to meet growers' needs.
Our county remains in exceptional and extreme drought -- the two worst classifications -- according to the National Drought Mitigation Center. The water district voted to reach into its reserves -- to keep water flowing for farmers.
Water district general manager John Martin said, "it requires us to take a lot of water out of our banked water supply, which is a little bit dangerous because that water has been accumulating for a long, long time, and we'll be using about 28% of it in a one year period."
Martin says with no state water allocation -- it's a move they have to make.
"It's going to keep the farmers in business because it will provide the money that we need to take the extra ordinary steps that we need to give them water, or sell them water, in a very serious drought," said Martin.
Martin says the cost of pumping groundwater will be on the growers -- with an 18% rate hike. A responsibility former Tehachapi City Council member Stan Beckham doesn't agree with.
Beckham said, "I think it's probably a necessity, but I think the thing is the burden should be placed on the city of Tehachapi and the city of Golden Hills and the people as well, not on the commercial people, as a general rule."
Tehachapi area growers could pay as much as $453 an acre foot for emergency groundwater deliveries. The rate increases take effect May 1st.
Beckham said increases will effect more than just the district.
Beckham said, "I think what's going to happen, it's going to effect food prices. you have to understand that food prices are going to go up and we have a lot of people that are losing their jobs. not a lot of jobs are coming into eastern Kern County."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports California's groundwater supply will have the biggest effect on production of fruits and vegetables. Milk prices could also go up with limited availability of alfalfa -- to feed dairy cattle. The USDA reports supermarket prices are expected to rise 2.5% to 3.5% -- compared to last year.
According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report -- food prices are already on the rise.
Our county remains in exceptional and extreme drought -- the two worst classifications -- according to the National Drought Mitigation Center. The water district voted to reach into its reserves -- to keep water flowing for farmers.
Water district general manager John Martin said, "it requires us to take a lot of water out of our banked water supply, which is a little bit dangerous because that water has been accumulating for a long, long time, and we'll be using about 28% of it in a one year period."
Martin says with no state water allocation -- it's a move they have to make.
"It's going to keep the farmers in business because it will provide the money that we need to take the extra ordinary steps that we need to give them water, or sell them water, in a very serious drought," said Martin.
Martin says the cost of pumping groundwater will be on the growers -- with an 18% rate hike. A responsibility former Tehachapi City Council member Stan Beckham doesn't agree with.
Beckham said, "I think it's probably a necessity, but I think the thing is the burden should be placed on the city of Tehachapi and the city of Golden Hills and the people as well, not on the commercial people, as a general rule."
Tehachapi area growers could pay as much as $453 an acre foot for emergency groundwater deliveries. The rate increases take effect May 1st.
Beckham said increases will effect more than just the district.
Beckham said, "I think what's going to happen, it's going to effect food prices. you have to understand that food prices are going to go up and we have a lot of people that are losing their jobs. not a lot of jobs are coming into eastern Kern County."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports California's groundwater supply will have the biggest effect on production of fruits and vegetables. Milk prices could also go up with limited availability of alfalfa -- to feed dairy cattle. The USDA reports supermarket prices are expected to rise 2.5% to 3.5% -- compared to last year.
According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report -- food prices are already on the rise.