As far back as 2015, Modesto Irrigation District (MID) Director Larry Byrd was a strong advocate for disclosing groundwater-pumping records saying,
“…for the good of the community, we ought to say how much we’re pumping and how deep and large the well is.”
At the time, Byrd said he had shared data from his wells and encouraged others to do the same. Later that same year, Byrd became partners with Tyler Angle in the AB La Grange Ranch on Stanislaus County’s east side. They began planting almonds on what had been the Rodoni Ranch, where Byrd had a lease to run cattle…