The critical aquifer overdraft in the Indian Wells Valley has been viewed with dread at Owens Valley Groundwater Authority meetings. Between growth in Ridgecrest and the Naval Air Station at White Sands, the area’s groundwater is in overdraft. The Owens Valley basin, on the other hand, appears to be in decent shape with a yet unverified “low” priority rating.

So, why does the OVGA cringe at any mention of Indian Wells: it’s the possibility that the district will stick a big straw in the Los Angeles Aqueduct and suck out the Eastern Sierra run-off. We can all relax.

According to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, “There have been no agreements nor any proposals developed.”

That statement was somewhat verified by Donald Zdeba, general manager of the Indian Wells Groundwater Authority:

Representatives from Capitol Core Group, the water marketers hired by the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority to research potential sources for imported water, Stetson Engineers (the Water Resources Manager), and myself met with LADWP earlier this year to discuss the concept of a water banking project.  LADWP has been considering a banking project going back as far as 2008. At that time, Indian Wells Valley Water District responded to an RFP from LADWP to construct and operate a water banking project.  Indian Wells Valley was the preferred site, but the project never went forward.  LADWP has since resurrected interest in a banking project along the Eastern Sierra and this meeting was to discuss the IWV as a possible location.  David Pettijohn was the primary contact with LADWP during that meeting.  There was no firm action taken as a result of the meeting.  Discussion was of a general nature.”

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