REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 25, 2025
FROM
BEAHTA R. DAVIS, Director, Regional Parks Department
SUBJECT
Title
Mojave Basin Area Watermaster Payment
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve the Payment for Replacement Water Assessment to the Mojave Basin Area Watermaster for the Mojave Narrows Regional Park in the amount of $565 per acre-foot for 474 acre-feet of water for the water year ending September 30, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $267,810.
(Presenter: Beahta R. Davis, Director, 387-2340)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommendation will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Regional Parks 2024-25 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In 1966, groundwater rights in the Mojave Basin Area were adjudicated through a judgment in the City of Barstow et al. v. City of Adelanto et al. (Riverside County Superior Court Case No. 208568). Under the judgment, the County has a Free Production Allowance (FPA) to pump 1,062 acre-feet of water every year for use at Mojave Narrows Regional Park (Park).
The Regional Parks Department (Department) has received two letters from the Mojave Basin Area Watermaster. The first letter was received on February 14, 2025, indicating that the Mojave Narrows Regional Park had a replacement water obligation. This initial letter showed a 474 acre-feet replacement obligation at a total cost of $267,810. This letter was a preliminary copy showing the Department’s Replacement Water Assessment charges. The second letter was received on March 5, 2025, and provided a final obligation cost that the County incurred confirming a water replacement obligation of 474 acre-feet over the 1,536 foot per acre during the 2023-24 water year.
This item aligns with the County and Chief Executive Officer’s goal and objective of operating in a fiscally-responsible and business-like manner by allowing the Department to have enough water and to pay for services and equipment to provide for a positive customer experience.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on March 6, 2025; Finance (Elias Duenas, Administrative Analyst, 387-4052) on March 6, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on March 7, 2025.