Who is the Watermaster?
The Court appointed Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency (FCGMA) as Watermaster (Judgment § 2.1).
Where can I access the LPV Adjudication Judgment?
Can I change my allocation under the LPV Adjudication Judgment?
Watermaster does not have authority to adjust allocations. Only the Court can adjust allocation.
What do I do if I was not granted an allocation under the Judgment?
Allocations may only be adjusted by the Court.
What is a WMID?
How do I verify my contact information is current with the Watermaster?
Locate your contact information on the Current Service List using your WMID.
How do I change my contact information with the Watermaster?
I emailed my contact information update to the Watermaster, but the Current Service List is not updated.
If you did not formally submit a contact change using a Service List Template, your contact information will not be permanently updated.
How do I inform Watermaster of an ownership change for a mutual exclusive shareholder?
The Judgment (Sections 1.31 and §4.12.9) outlines the requirements for a Change of WMID Ownership and states that it is the grantee’s responsibility to provide Watermaster with the following:
- A copy of the purchase and sale agreement; and
- A copy of the recorded deed conveying the parcel to the grantee.
Please note: “Watermaster shall not change the identified owner of Allocation Basis in the Groundwater Allocation Schedule until the grantee has complied with this Section 4.12.9. Upon the effective date of a Change of WMID Ownership, the grantee assumes all liability for all Basin Assessments, Overuse Assessments, or any related fees attributable to the WMID.” (Judgment, § 4.12.9).
How do I remain in compliance with the Judgment?
Pay Basin Assessments (Exhibit A § 2.8) and submit semi-annual Groundwater Extraction and Usage reporting on time, keeping contact information current, don’t extract over your allocation, maintain meter and AMI equipment pursuant to existing FCGMA ordinances (Exhibit A § 5.1 & 5.2).
What is a Basin Assessment?
A Basin Assessment is an assessment paid by all Water Right Holders in the Basin to provide administrative management of the Basin, investigations, inspections, compliance and enforcement, personnel costs, general operation and maintenance, infrastructure maintenance, utilities, and Basin optimization and groundwater enhancement projects (Judgment, § 7). Basin Assessments are based on a Water Right Holder’s Annual Allocation rather than the amount of groundwater extracted during a reporting period (Judgment, § 7.2).
Why did my Basin Assessment payment get returned?
If your payment is not made out to Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency or FCGMA, if your check is not signed, if your amount due is incorrect, if your check has insufficient identifying information, staff will return your payment for correction.
The original date of receipt will be honored as long as corrected payment is promptly addressed.
Why did I receive two Basin Assessment invoices with the same WMID and invoice number?
Mutual Water Companies will receive a separate invoice containing their allocation according to Exhibit C and the applicable annual allocation schedule. Mutuals will also receive a separate invoice for mutual exclusive members. Per the Judgment, “The Mutual Water Company will be responsible for complying with the Judgment, including reporting Groundwater Use to Watermaster and paying all Basin Assessments, and any Overuse Assessments related to the Groundwater delivered by the Mutual Water Company and Used by its Mutual Exclusive Shareholders” (Judgment § 4.7.1). The second invoice is for the Mutual Exclusives associated with the Mutual Water Company. The exclusive member WMID’s are listed on the invoice.
What do I do if I receive a Basin Assessment invoice for $0.00 due?
No further action is required.
How do I request a time extension for Basin Assessment payments?
The Judgment has no provision for extending due dates for individual shareholders.
What is Extraction and Use Reporting?
To learn about Extraction and Use Reporting, go to https://fcgma.org/lpv-reporting/ and read Exhibit A, Article V.
How is semi-annual Groundwater Extraction and Use Reporting to the Watermaster different from Semi-Annual Extraction Statement reporting to FCGMA?
LPV Watermaster and FCGMA and are separate entities. Allocations under the Judgment are tied to the parcel or group of parcels, while allocations under FCGMA are tied to the well; therefore, the manner in which extractions are reported is different for each entity.
How do I request a time extension for Groundwater Extraction and Use Reporting?
The Judgment has no provision for extending due dates for individual shareholders.
Does the Judgment have a provision for carryover?
Go to Judgment § 4.11.
What happens to carryover accrued under the FCGMA Ordinance?
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.
Does the Judgment have a provision for Allocation Transfers?
Go to Judgment § 4.12.