The State - News from March 20, 1988

Leaking unlined sewer ponds are threatening the Ridgecrest water supply and wreaking havoc on buildings and roads at the nearby China Lake Naval Weapons Center. But the same leaking ponds have created two artificial marshes which happen to be the largest habitat for the Mojave tui chub, a fish listed on the state and federal endangered species lists. The chub’s prolific presence in these man-made marshes has greatly complicated plans to manage the high ground water problem, which one Navy official estimated has caused at least $500,000 damage to building foundations and nearby roads. Draining the two artificial marshes on the China Lake Naval Weapons Station property, known as Lark Seep and G-1 Seep, would violate state and federal endangered species laws since it would deprive the chub of its habitat.