When you first meet John Vidovich, everything from his ball cap to his dirty boots tells you he’s a farmer.

He certainly looks the part in his well-worn jeans and checkered shirts.

A map showing how some Tulare and Kings county farmers fear John Vidovich will use a Semitropic project to take groundwater out of their basin.
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The Kings River flows under Highway 99 on Saturday. Usually this area of the river is popular for water recreation.

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John Vidovich flies in from Northern California to the Wasco airport to give a tour of some of his farmland in the area.

John Vidovich

John Vidovich answers a question from a farmer at the June 21 meeting of the Buena Vista Water Storage District. Vidovich is president of the board.

Matt Hurley

Matt Hurley, general manager of the Angiola Water District, is causing concern among Tulare and Kings county farmers over groundwater.

Satellite imagery from NASA

NASA released satellite photos earlier this year that it used to determine land subsidence in California from overpumping groundwater. The area with the worst subsidence was in Tulare County around the town of Corcoran. The red depicts land that has sunk 20 to 24 inches.

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Farmers Jack Mitchell, right, and Milt Pace are battling with John Vidovich to keep him away from the water they use to farm their land.

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Farmer Milt Pace

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Farmer Jack Mitchell walks out of the Atwell Island Water District board room.

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John Vidovich walks through his almond orchard near Wasco and explains the spray irrigation system he uses. He is a San Joaquin Valley farmer from Northern California.

John Vidovich after meeting

John Vidovich talks to a farmer after the Buena Vista Water Storage District meeting June 21.

Contact Californian columnist Lois Henry at 661-395-7373 or lhenry@bakersfield.com. Her work appears on Sundays and Wednesdays; the views expressed are her own.

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