OJAI : New Water Agency Assesses 3 Members
The Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency has assessed each of its three major members a $16,666 charge this year as start-up funds for the newly formed organization.
The Casitas Municipal Water District, the Southern California Water Co. and the city of Ojai were all assessed the fees, which represent the maximum allowed under the state legislation that set up the agency.
The funds will be used for the agency’s first major undertaking, a survey of ground water across the Ojai Valley, officials said.
Once the survey is complete, agency officials plan to manage the underground reserves by charging extraction fees on all who tap into them.
The agency has two years to conduct the study and begin collecting the extraction fees, officials said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
