By Frank and Michelle Maga
We were recently made aware that Piñon Pines is seeking permission from Kern County to drill another water well. We have received a letter Mike O’Brien received from the Kern County Planning and Community Development Department under the direction of Lorelei Oviatt. This letter served as a notice of public review and public hearing on the proposed project. Here is what this can mean to all of us in Cuddy Valley.
Several years ago Piñon Pines drilled a new water well to a depth of 500 feet. Most of us in Cuddy Valley have wells of 200-300 feet or slightly deeper.
Immediately after Piñon Pines drilled their well, the water levels and output in several neighboring wells dropped significantly. Not everyone measures their well depth or output, so we don’t know how many wells were affected. Larry Darling, Mike O’Brien, Karen Schott and Frank and Michelle Maga’s wells were all affected. This was not drought related. These wells are on the east and west sides of Piñon Pines.
Since there has never been a study done on the aquifer that provides water to Cuddy Valley residents, we do not know the impact that drilling these deep, high-output wells has on the community. Piñon Pines residents have little if any restriction on their water usage and those restrictions they currently have in place are recent, as a result of the drought. There is no way to know if the current water shortage in Lake of the Woods is related to the drilling of the last well in Piñon Pines. If we are all on the same aquifer, it is possible that the drought, coupled with deep wells, is responsible.
Here is what you must do to help protect your water supply and that of your neighbors.
Write a brief letter that states you strongly oppose further drilling by Piñon Pines until a study can be done of the aquifer. Your letter can be short but if you wish to address the Planning Commission at the public hearing, the drilling topic and any others relating to our water supply must be outlined in your letter.
•For example, if you want to bring up the subject of Lake of the Woods water shortage, it must be in your letter.
•If you want to request an aquifer study, that must be in your letter, etc.
•Your letter must arrive at their offices before October 31.
•People whose letters are received before October 31 may be allowed to speak at the public hearing scheduled for November 13. The mailing information is:
Patricia Thomsen, Planner 2
c/o Kern County Planning and Community Development
2700 ‘M’ Street Suite 100
Bakersfield, California 93301
I would also cc: the same letter to the department director Lorelei Oviatt.
•Be sure to send your letter registered mail.
•It would also be most beneficial to address a separate letter to our county supervisor David Couch:
District 4 Supervisor Couch
Kern County Administrative Center
1115 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
•We may all run out of water if Piñon Pines drills another deep, high-output well.
Please take the time to write that you strongly oppose further Piñon Pines drilling without a study of the aquifer.
Attend the public hearing.
•Deadline for Comments is October 31 at 5 p.m.
•Public Hearing is November 13, 7 p.m.
Brd of Supervisors chambers, First Floor, Kern Co. Admin. Center, 1115 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield
Editor’s Note:
On July 25, 2014 The Mountain Enterprise published an editorial calling for a regional aquifer study. Nearly $2 million in state and federal grants is flowing into the Mountain Communities this year for exploration and drilling new wells [counting the Lake of the Woods – Frazier Park Public Utility planning grant and the Piñon Pines allocations].
But there is no provision for merging the exploration data into a unified regional aquifer map. This is a serious blunder and a missed opportunity for the entire region if something is not done quickly.
We are missing overview in this region right now.
We are flying blind. We have no elected Municipal Advisory Council or a Town Council that can examine, debate and help create regional vision to develop collaborations around vital interests on critical local issues.
An attempt was made in the past year, since September 2013, to explore greater collaboration between well owners on the Cuddy Valley aquifer, in meetings hosted by the Frazier Park Public Utility District. Representatives from nearly all the Cuddy Valley water companies, including the Tejon-Castac Water Company attended at least one of those meetings.
Concerns about the desire to retain independence were expressed by the Lebec County Water District and the Piñon Pines Estates Mutual Water Company. The grant specifically said there is no obligation to become formally affiliated in order to join in a research and planning process for water exploration. It provided funding for researching legal options related to collaboration.
Though private well owners were also invited to join in the planning grant, none did.
In the end, only FPPUD and Lake of the Woods Mutual Water Company applied for the planning funds, which they have now received. The first ad hoc committee meeting for that effort meets this Friday at 10 a.m. at the FPPUD office. The aquifer study idea is starting to take weak root, but it needs to grow, quickly.
—Patric Hedlund, Editor
This is part of the October 17, 2014 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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