The Tide Turns
Nancy watched us in silence for a long moment. She wasn't just a clerk processing paperwork; she was someone who had spent decades witnessing the pain and disputes of local farmers. She understood all too well just how much of an impact our words would have on the community.
“...Is this the supplementary material?”
“That’s right. I’ve printed it out for you, so please, feel free to look through it.”
She took the USB drive and the documents I handed her. She began flipping through the pages one by one, checking the contents. The way her expression grew increasingly stern revealed just how serious the situation was.
“Pressure fluctuations and rising EC levels... the data is quite clear. Very well. This can serve as a formal Basin Harm Investigation request to the NSJWCD headquarters.”
Chloe, clenching her fists, asked, “Then... that farm will be investigated too, right?”
“It might go beyond just an investigation. If the aquifer is being mixed due to reverse pumping as you’ve described, it falls under Groundwater Contamination Risk. That’s a matter that could lead to fines, restrictions on well usage, or even involvement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)... The farm in question is likely going to be in a very difficult position.”
Chloe looked at me with wide, round eyes.
“Nice.”
I chuckled and asked Nancy, “Is there any additional paperwork we need to submit?”
Nancy pulled out a file and laid out a new form. The cover read:
[FORM GW-412]
Groundwater Harm & Overdraft Investigation Request
“Once this is submitted, separate from the dispute investigation already underway, it will automatically trigger an audit of the southern farm’s well usage records, pump power consumption, and groundwater sampling. Would you like to sign?”
The farm owner, Chloe, gave the answer.
“Absolutely.”
Chloe picked up a pen and wrote her name clearly.
Chloe Harris.
Nancy took the pen back, organized the file, and said quietly, “Very well. From this moment on, this is classified as a formal investigation case. Here is your receipt. The ‘Investigation Commencement Request’ is registered as of today, and the NSJWCD headquarters investigation team will be mobilized within ten days at the latest.”
“Thank you.”
As we left the Lodi County administrative office and got into the car, the tightness in my chest finally lifted. Chloe seemed to feel the same, as she was beaming.
“I was so frustrated. Honestly, if it weren't for you, I would have just called my dad and asked for his help.”
“You didn’t tell him?”
“Nope. I wanted to wait until everything was resolved to tell him.”
It was truly unexpected that she hadn’t told Frederick. I had assumed she would have talked to him and gotten his advice.
“Why didn’t you?”
“When he helped me acquire the farm, he told me that since I’m a farm owner now, I shouldn't just run to him every time a problem arises, begging him to fix it. He said I should at least try to solve it on my own, and only come to him when I truly believe it’s impossible.”
“Ah... I see.”
“But since I solved it with your help, I’m a little upset that I didn’t follow his advice completely, but I feel like I can handle it on my own next time.”
I could guess what was in Frederick’s heart. He wanted his daughter to succeed, but he also wanted her to grow as a farm owner, so he preferred she learn to stand on her own rather than just doing everything for her.
However, it was clear that Frederick wouldn’t have been disappointed if Chloe had asked for help with this specific issue. Water disputes like this were complex and difficult enough to stump even a veteran like him.
“If I’d known that, should I have not helped you?”
“What?”
Seeing her eyes flare with indignation, I quickly started the car.
“I’m just saying, just saying...”
“Anyway, once it’s all resolved, I’m going to tell my dad about it proudly. And going back and forth to the administrative office to file objections and paperwork for a dispute like this is a huge experience. Before, I’d never done it, so I just vaguely thought it would be difficult and exhausting, but now I think I could do it alone next time.”
“You definitely grew in that regard.”
After that, I spent my mornings checking the soil and saplings at Chloe’s pear orchard, and my afternoons returning to the winery to oversee the newly acquired land and manage the workers. Three days later, Chloe received a call from Nancy on her cell phone.
“Ms. Chloe Harris, the report is currently circulating to the upper departments of the NSJWCD. It’s reached the Regional Hydro Unit. There should be movement within this week.”
“Understood.”
After hanging up, Chloe filled me in on the conversation.
“If it’s the Regional Hydro Unit, that means they’re investigating from a higher level than that inspector, Harold, right?”
“That’s right. Now, let’s wait and see how they react.”
I smiled and turned my head toward the direction where the invisible pistachio farm lay.
South of Lodi, California, lay an endless expanse of pistachio fields.
Jack O’Connell walked into the farm office, dragging his heavy boots as he always did. His day always started with checking the well gauges—to monitor the power usage of the pumps that ran overnight and the changes in water levels by the hour.
“Good... not bad.”
He was muttering to himself like a mantra when, suddenly, his phone rang. The caller was Jeffrey Clarkson from the walnut farm.
“What’s up this early...?”
Before he could even finish, a panicked voice came through the receiver.
“Damn it! Did you hear? The order to suspend well usage at Chloe’s pear orchard has been stayed!”
“What?”
“That kid seems to have filed an objection with Lodi County.”
“And they accepted it?”
Jack O’Connell’s face hardened into a scowl. Having farmed in this region for a long time, he knew that Lodi County didn’t accept half-baked objections. Moreover, the response was so fast... he had expected to waste time by dragging out arguments with neighboring farmers for at least a few weeks.
“The neighboring farms are starting to lower their guard, but...”
“No, keep pushing. You know that makes things easier for us, right?”
“I know. That’s why I’m calling you in such a panic. Damn it... I paid that inspector, Harold, 2,000 dollars, and this happens? I could have squeezed at least 30,000 dollars out of them.”
If the objection had failed, Jack O’Connell and Jeffrey had intended to sue the pear orchard for at least 30,000 dollars in damages. That was the very reason the surrounding farms had been so aggressive from the start.
“Nothing we can do. Let’s just wait and see.”
After hanging up, Jack stared at his laptop with a grave expression. He had to prove with objective figures that there was no issue with the aquifer, but he couldn’t believe they had managed to do it in such a short time.
Just then, he saw two white trucks entering the farm in the distance. As the dust swirled in the wind, the blue letters written on the side of the trucks became clearer.
NSJWCD – REGIONAL HYDRO UNIT
Jack’s face turned pale.
“Wh... why are they coming here?”
The truck parked in front of the office, the door opened, and an inspector in a neat shirt stepped out, approaching with a file folder in hand.
“Are you Mr. Jack O’Connell?”
“Yes, but what is this...?”
The inspector pulled out a document and said, “We need to conduct an on-site verification due to suspicions of reverse pumping and Aquifer Disturbance. Please grant us access to your wells.”
Jack O’Connell felt his heart drop into his stomach. What was going on? How could the inspector possibly know about this and investigate?
He tried to maintain his composure, keeping his voice from trembling as he spoke as casually as he could.
“What on earth are you talking about? What did our farm do wrong... who reported us?”
“I cannot disclose who made the report. We are simply following orders.”
“Fine. I won’t ask who reported us, but isn’t it wrong to just show up without notice and start investigating blindly? Besides, our farm has been operating here for over ten years. We aren’t some place with no history like that new pear orchard over there!”
But the inspector didn’t even blink.
“I understand, sir. However, an independent audit is currently underway for the entire southern zone, including your farm. Furthermore, an investigation of your farm is mandatory.”
Unable to accept this, Jack let out a hollow laugh.
“...This is a setup. It’s an obvious setup. That Harris kid must have cooked this up!”
The inspector added quietly, “I’m sorry, but we do not initiate investigations without grounds. We are investigating after a thorough review. I should also inform you that since we are referencing a report from a hydrologic consultant, making accusations of a ‘setup’ could potentially lead to legal issues for you.”
At the polite warning, Jack shut his mouth. He knew exactly how much influence and authority these people had in the region, and he knew he couldn’t just be stubborn.
As the investigation team headed toward the well, Jack hurriedly pulled out his phone and called Jeffrey, the walnut farmer he was close with.
“Hey, we’re in trouble. Those pear orchard people reported our farm as the main culprit for the reverse pumping!”
“What? Is that true?”
“Yeah. The inspectors are here right now! We can’t just sit here and...”
But the answer he got was not what he expected.
“Uh, look, Jack... I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to bow out.”
“...What are you talking about right now!”
“I’m sorry. But I’ll look into what’s legally possible.”
Jack could look into legal options himself. It was clear that Jeffrey just didn’t want the burden of being at the forefront, meaning he wouldn’t be standing with him anymore.
“Are you really doing this?”
“I’m sorry... and to be honest, your farm used the most water. We’ve been on your side and we’ll continue to be, but if I get involved in this, my farm will suffer huge losses. Anyway, I’ll look into every possible option I can.”
“Hey...”
“I’m sorry. Please understand.”
The call ended. Jack was so stunned he just stared at his phone for a long time.
He looked toward the well in the distance and saw the two inspectors opening the well cover.
“Damn it...”
Cold sweat was already beading on his palms. His heart was racing, and no matter how deeply he breathed, the rapid thumping wouldn’t subside.
He covered his face with both hands.
Just then, the inspector walked back toward the truck and said, “Mr. O’Connell, we will hold a briefing on the initial test results tomorrow at 9:00 AM.”
His heart sank once more. The inspector’s words were effectively a declaration that ‘your farm is now an official suspect.’