Securing Our Water Future

Bear Valley is far too dependent on water imported from outside our valley. Today, the

majority of the water we use comes from wells in Cummings Valley. That dependence is

expensive, energy-intensive, and leaves us vulnerable as imported water supplies will

decrease significantly over the coming years.

Of the roughly two dozen wells located inside Bear Valley, only five are currently

operating. We must prioritize rehabilitating our local wells so we can produce more of

our own water here at home.

We also own six wells in Cummings Valley. Only two of them are currently producing

potable water because of contamination issues. The Tehachapi-Cummings Valley has

offered to help flush these wells. TCCWD will provide BVCSD with credit for the water

pumped while at the same time hopefully cleaning up our wells to remove the

contamination. This is the type of innovative approach we need to pursue. While that

work is underway, the water that is pumped could be sold locally to offset costs-or

applied toward the roughly 2,000 acre-feet of banked water we currently owe at $400

per acre-foot (about $800,000).

As your Board member, I will push for a clear, prioritized plan to bring local wells back

online, reduce our reliance on imported water, and responsibly manage our banked-

water obligations so we protect both our supply and our rates.