A guest commentary published in The Sun and Daily Bulletin ("Cadiz gamble leaves us high and dry," May 13) contained some serious misstatements about the status of a water project that will eventually come under review by the County of San Bernardino.
The county cannot address any of the assertions made about the project itself because the proposal has not yet undergone a formal review. What the county can state, contrary to what was reported in the column, is that the county has not made any decisions on the Cadiz water project, nor has the county in any way ceded any of its authority or responsibility in this matter.
The term "lead agency" is applied to the agency responsible for preparing the environmental documents for a project. Serving as the lead agency does not come with any independent approval authority. The Santa Margarita Water District claimed lead agency status on this project before the county became aware of it. The county could have challenged the water district for lead agency status, but such challenges seldom if ever succeed. And if the county had prevailed, all it would have won was the right to prepare the documents. In exchange for not challenging, the county got the applicant to agree that they were subject to the county's Groundwater Management Ordinance.
In terms of control over the project, the county has complete authority in its role as "responsible agency." The project cannot proceed without the county's review and consent, which can only be granted through a public process. If the project moves forward, the county will also maintain its authority to monitor its impact on the environment and be in a position to halt the project if necessary.
Finally, the May 13 guest column asks why the Board of Supervisors would ever vote to privatize groundwater, a public resource. The board is not being asked to privatize groundwater. Under California law, Cadiz as a landowner holds "overlying" rights to pump and use groundwater from the basin that underlies its land. Cadiz may also pump and use groundwater from the basin for lands outside of the area as an "appropriator," though that right is generally limited to the safe yield of the basin. Most cities and counties in California depend on water that is imported from groundwater basins or river systems well beyond their boundaries. So it should come as no surprise that a private company and public water agency would seek to convey groundwater to communities that need the water in Southern California.
The county encourages the public to remain active and participate as the Cadiz proposal comes before the county for review. The public will be notified well in advance on all hearings at which this proposal will be discussed.
David Wert is public information officer for the County of San Bernardino.