Public Comment Sought for Indian Wells Pipeline Project
Public Comment Sought for Indian Wells Pipeline Project
Inyo County encourages its constituents to provide input on the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority’s (IWVGA) water import pipeline project in eastern Kern County. IWVGA seeks public, trustee, and agency input on potential environmental impacts prior to preparation of an environmental analysis during the scoping period that started August 1 and ends August 31.
Inyo County is a founding member of the IWVGA, a joint powers authority, and supports the IWVGA water import pipeline project as it is currently proposed. Inyo County supports the project because it will help to ensure a reliable source of water supply to the Indian Wells Valley groundwater basin, which includes Inyo County residents and constituents, while also helping to avoid further stressing water supplies from the Eastern Sierra Nevada region beyond the effects of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power water exports. In other words, by establishing a water delivery infrastructure coming from south of Ridgecrest, the potential for the Indian Wells Valley water users to seek water from the Owens Valley will likely be greatly diminished.
The IWGWA will be the lead agency for the project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and is hosting two upcoming scoping meetings to gather feedback on how the Imported Water Pipeline Project may impact the environment.
The meetings will be held in-person with the option for virtual attendance on the following dates:
- August 22, 2023
Kerr McGee Community Center
100 W California Ave, Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Zoom Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/rIWVGA
- August 23, 2023
Place: Kerr McGee Community Center
100 W California Ave, Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Zoom Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/rIWVGA
- August 24, 2023
California City Branch Library
9507 California City Blvd., California City, CA 93505
Zoom Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/calcIWVGA
The project consists of delivering water via a 20- to 24-inch diameter pipeline that starts at existing water distribution facilities owned and operated by Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency in California City, to the Indian Wells Valley Water Districts Ridgecrest Heights Water Storage Tank located 50 miles away. The project is intended to provide what’s known as in-lieu groundwater recharge to an area determined to be in critical overdraft by the California Department of Water Resources (CDWR). The essential goal is to reduce groundwater pumping in the overdraft area by bringing in water from another source and ultimately preserve the Basin’s groundwater resource as a sustainable water supply, continue to provide the residents with quality drinking water, and sustain the mission of the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station.
The project was included in the Groundwater Sustainability Plan prepared the IWVGA pursuant to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and approved by the CDWR.
The Notice of Preparation of Draft Environmental Impact Report and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting can be found at: https://mcusercontent.com/8441dc03663a1fd11bef710e4/files/843b47fa-a425-c178- a4fa-ad5a575e9379/Final_Notice_of_Preparation.pdf
Comments can also be made in writing via email or regular U.S. Post. All comments should reference “Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority Imported Water Pipeline Project” and include the name, email address, phone number, and mailing address of the contact person submitting the comments. Comments concerning the scope of the EIR can be sent by email to [email protected] by Aug. 31, 2023. Written comments sent by U.S. Mail and postmarked on or before Aug. 31, 2023, should be sent to the attention of:
April Keigwin – IWVGA Clerk of the Board of Directors
100 W. California Ave., Ridgecrest, CA. 93555
Phone: (805) 764-5452
or
Dena E. Giacomini, Principal Planner, Environmental Project Manager
Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group
1800 30th Street, Suite 280, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 616-5900 ext. 721
The IWVGA is a local public agency formed in 2016 through execution of a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement between the City of Ridgecrest, Indian Wells Valley Water District, County of Kern, County of Inyo, and County of San Bernardino who serve as the general members of the Board of Directors. The Bureau of Land Management and the United States Navy, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake serve as non-voting associate members of the Board of Directors.
