75,000 acre-feet of water supply will support sustainable growth and groundwater recharge in the Mojave River Basin.
Los Angeles and Hesperia, CALIFORNIA (06.10.24) – Cadiz, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDZI / CDZIP) (“Cadiz” or the “Company”), announced that on June 5th the Company signed a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) to provide 75,000 acre-feet of water supply to the City of Hesperia as part of the Company’s commitment to the “One Water” Initiative in San Bernardino County’s Mojave River Basin.
Cadiz’ participation in the One Water initiative with Victor Valley water agencies was announced in January. Under the “One Water” initiative, regional water agencies will develop a coordinated strategy for financing and building water infrastructure in San Bernardino County’s Mojave River region. As part of its commitment, Cadiz, through its non-profit affiliate Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company, will supply surplus water to participating agencies from the Cadiz water supply and storage project in the eastern Mojave on an “at cost” basis. Participating agencies will jointly develop an infrastructure plan to conserve and efficiently utilize all water resources in the Mojave River Basin – including groundwater, recycled water, wastewater and imported water resources from the State Water Project.
“Implementing the One Water initiative is crucial for High Desert communities,” said Susan Kennedy, CEO of Cadiz. “Nowhere is water more precious. Cadiz is incredibly proud to help communities like Hesperia plan for robust growth with a conservation focus that preserves desert groundwater and improves the quality of life for families who live, work and play here.”
“As part of an adjudicated water basin, the City of Hesperia is committed to responsible water management strategies to address our replacement water obligations,” said Hesperia Mayor Larry Bird. “To support our growing community, we are exploring opportunities like the Fenner Gap Water Project, which offers new avenues for water supply and sustainability. By participating in the Mojave-San Bernardino One Water Project, we aim to secure a sustainable water supply, ensuring water security and resilience for our City’s future.”
In accordance with the LOI, Hesperia and Fenner Gap will enter a definitive agreement reserving 75,000 AF of supplemental water supply from the Cadiz project through its Northern Pipeline. That pipeline runs 220 miles from Cadiz in the eastern Mojave through High Desert communities including Barstow, Yermo, Daggett, Newberry Springs and the Antelope Valley. Cadiz water would recharge groundwater basins in the Mojave River Basin reducing the need for imported water from the State Water Project. The cost of the water will be limited to the actual incremental expense of pumping, delivery and exchange.
The Mojave-San Bernardino County One Water Project was launched by the Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority (VVWRA) in 2024 as a collaboration among public agencies and water providers in San Bernardino County’s High Desert region. The goal is to develop a regional, integrated and sustainably managed water system that considers the current and future needs of all its users, meets human needs with environmental best practices, and makes cost-effective investments in infrastructure to preserve access and affordability for all.
Earlier this year, Cadiz announced that the Company has agreements in place for 65% of the Northern Pipeline capacity. The majority of the water transported via the Northern Pipeline will benefit communities in San Bernardino County, including the Cities of Barstow, Adelanto and Fontana. Several additional agreements are expected to be announced in the near future.
To view a copy of the LOI with the City of Hesperia, click here.
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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT: This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “anticipates”, “expect”, “may”, “plan”, or “will”. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections, predictions, expectations, or beliefs about future events or results and are not statements of historical fact, and such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the progress and plans of the water development project, the expected pricing, value and terms for water supply and storage, necessary permits required to construct facilities, and projected financial performance. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These and other risks are identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), including without limitation our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings subsequently made by the Company with the Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management’s assumptions and estimates as of such date. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of future events or otherwise.