Fenner Valley Water Authority Provides Public Oversight
Fenner Valley Water Authority is a public agency responsible for facility planning, financing oversight, and environmental review for the Mojave Groundwater Bank.
Formed in 2014, the Fenner Valley Water Authority (FVWA) is a public joint powers agency overseeing facilities and operations for the Mojave Groundwater Bank. The Mojave Groundwater Bank is a water supply and groundwater storage project involving public water providers, local government, Tribal partners, infrastructure investors, and Cadiz. It is designed to improve water access and reliability for Southern California communities. FVWA reviews project modifications and oversees facility development alongside San Bernardino County’s and Santa Margarita Water District’s groundwater enforcement responsibilities.
Summary
- FVWA provides public oversight of Mojave Groundwater Bank facilities and operations to support water delivery to Southern California communities.
- Santa Margarita Water District and Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company formed FVWA in 2014; San Bernardino County joined as an ex-officio member in 2023.
- FVWA reviews project modifications under CEQA and approved the Northern Pipeline’s environmental addendum on September 25, 2025.
- The Technical Review Panel advises San Bernardino County and Santa Margarita Water District, which retain groundwater-plan enforcement responsibilities.
Joint Governance Supports Water Infrastructure
FVWA was created to implement the water project through a public-private partnership with Cadiz. Its founding agreement assigns responsibilities for reviewing and approving facility design, permitting, and construction; overseeing facility operation and maintenance; and ensuring water delivery follows the groundwater management plan and applicable permits.
Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) and Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company formed the Authority in 2014. SMWD serves as its designated entity under California Government Code Section 6509 and as the managing member. The Authority’s members include SMWD, Fenner Gap, and San Bernardino County.
Cadiz’s August 2023 membership announcement reported that the County’s Board of Supervisors voted to execute a joinder agreement, making the County an ex-officio member. The County also retains its regulatory responsibilities for groundwater protection.
FVWA’s founding agreement requires board meetings to be noticed and conducted under California’s Brown Act. Its September 2025 agenda provides a public forum for comments on agenda items and access to supporting records for public inspection.
FVWA Oversees Facility Development and Operations
FVWA’s responsibilities connect facility design and construction with longer-term operation and maintenance. The 2025 board materials identify the Authority’s role in reviewing and approving the design, permitting, and construction of facilities needed to deliver project water.
That responsibility covers the project’s water-delivery facilities, including the Northern Pipeline. Cadiz and Fenner Gap coordinate development and construction, while FVWA reviews facility plans and oversees project implementation. The 2025 Northern Pipeline draft MOU sets out responsibilities for that conversion, including a proposed facility lease.
FVWA Approved the Northern Pipeline’s Environmental Review
FVWA served as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) lead agency for subsequent project actions, including the 2019 and 2025 addenda. SMWD led the original environmental review and certified the Final Environmental Impact Report on July 31, 2012. These state environmental approvals establish the review framework for project development.
The September 2025 approval record documents FVWA’s adoption of Addendum No. 2 on September 25, 2025. The addendum evaluates conversion of the Northern Pipeline for water conveyance, including pump stations and supporting facilities. FVWA found that the modifications did not require a supplemental or subsequent EIR.
Organization | Environmental or management responsibility | Facility or delivery connection |
Fenner Valley Water Authority | Public oversight of facilities and operations; CEQA lead agency for project modifications. | Reviews and approves the design, permitting, and construction of facilities needed to deliver project water. |
Santa Margarita Water District | Lead agency for the 2012 EIR; retains independent enforcement responsibilities under the groundwater plan. | Founding FVWA member and managing member. |
San Bernardino County | Regulates groundwater use and export; approved the groundwater plan and oversees compliance with its requirements. | Ex-officio FVWA member, with groundwater enforcement responsibilities alongside SMWD. |
Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company | Would operate and manage the project under FVWA oversight and report under the groundwater plan. | Founding FVWA member; delivers water at cost to members with project-water contracts. |
County Authority Enforces Groundwater Safeguards
San Bernardino County approved the groundwater management plan in October 2012 and oversees compliance under its Desert Groundwater Management Ordinance. FVWA’s operational oversight must work within that plan; it does not replace the County’s regulatory authority.
The County-approved management plan provides for a three-member Technical Review Panel to assess data and recommend responses. The County retains final decision authority under the plan, and SMWD retains its own enforcement responsibilities. Corrective measures can include reducing or stopping pumping when needed to address predicted or observed undesirable results.
The Technical Review Panel’s role includes reviewing baseline aquifer and watershed conditions and advising the County and SMWD on monitoring results and corrective measures. That work supports the agencies’ oversight by providing a technical basis for evaluating conditions before and during project operations.
Fenner Gap Organizes Supply for Member Agencies
Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company and FVWA are separate entities with complementary roles. Fenner Gap is the nonprofit mutual water company formed to deliver conserved water at cost to its members. The 2025 draft MOU describes those members as entities with contracts to receive project water and assigns Fenner Gap operation and management under FVWA oversight.
FVWA’s role is public oversight of facilities and project implementation. Fenner Gap’s role is operating the water system and serving its members, with groundwater monitoring and reporting responsibilities under the management plan.
Coordinated Oversight Supports Water Delivery
The Fenner Valley Water Authority gives the Mojave Groundwater Bank public oversight of facility development, operations, and environmental compliance. As a public joint powers agency, it connects facility decisions with public review. Fenner Gap’s role is to operate the water system for its members, while the County and SMWD retain groundwater enforcement powers. These roles support the development of water supply and storage infrastructure for Southern California communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Are FVWA’s Members?
The Authority lists Santa Margarita Water District, Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company, and San Bernardino County. SMWD and Fenner Gap formed FVWA in 2014; Cadiz announced the County’s ex-officio membership in August 2023.
How Does FVWA Support Public Participation?
FVWA publishes board meeting agendas and provides opportunities for public comment on agenda items. Its September 2025 special-meeting agenda includes a public forum and access to supporting records for public inspection. These processes allow people to follow and comment on decisions about project facilities.
How Is Fenner Gap Different From FVWA?
Fenner Gap is the mutual water company that would operate and manage the project and deliver water at cost to its members. FVWA provides public oversight of facilities and operations, including review of project modifications under CEQA.
Which Agency Led the Environmental Review?
Santa Margarita Water District led the original review and certified the 2012 Environmental Impact Report. Fenner Valley Water Authority led subsequent actions, including the 2019 addendum and the Northern Pipeline addendum approved on September 25, 2025, as the agency overseeing project implementation.
Who Enforces the Groundwater Plan?
San Bernardino County retains enforcement authority under the groundwater plan, and SMWD retains its own enforcement responsibilities. The Technical Review Panel supplies technical advice. The County’s FVWA membership is separate from these regulatory duties.
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