LPV Watermaster

The judgment entered in Las Posas Valley Water Rights Coalition, et al. v. Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency et al., Santa Barbara Sup. Ct. Case No. VENC100509700 (“Judgment”), comprehensively determined all rights to extract, use, and store groundwater in the Las Posas Valley Groundwater Basin as defined by DWR Bulletin No. 118 (“LPV Basin”). The Judgment specifically prohibits groundwater extraction and use from the LPV Basin except as provided in the Judgment. Landowners are granted one of four types of Water Right Allocation: Agricultural Allocation, Commercial Allocation, Domestic Allocation, or Mutual Water Company Allocation. Each Landowner’s Water Right Allocation was determined based on Historical Use, reasonable current groundwater demand, and unique equitable factors (including irrigation efficiency, climate, crop replanting, well failure, and fire damage). Neither the Judgment nor any type of Water Right Allocation recognizes or provides for carryover accrued prior to the effective date of the Judgment under any FCGMA ordinance. Accordingly, because the Judgment prohibits groundwater use within the LPV Basin except as provided, only Carryover accrued pursuant to the terms of the Judgment will be recognized.