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Antelope Valley construction halted by water concerns

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 13, 2008 at 8:25 am

From the San Fernando Business Journal:

Construction has been halted in some parts of the Antelope Valley over the inability to provide new homes, and industrial and commercial developments with an adequate supply of water.

Since November, the Los Angeles County Waterworks District No. 40 has refused to issue “will serve” letters guaranteeing water service. The district serves much of the Valley, including the city of Lancaster and parts of the City of Palmdale. That refusal stalled the construction of 1,000 new single-family homes in two projects in Lancaster and has developers thinking twice about starting new projects.

While not at a crisis stage yet, the water shortage is a priority of the cities, developers and agencies responsible for the water supply. “There are currently a number of groups working together or individual agencies looking for additional sources of water whether it’s here in Southern California, through Northern California acquisition or even potentially outside the state if there is water on the market,” said Gretchen Gutierrez, executive director of the Building Industry Association chapter for the Antelope Valley.

Water finds its way to the valley from melting snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains transported south through the Los Angeles aqueduct. Lower snowfalls have produced less water in years past. Additionally, a December court order restricts water flow by slowing pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to protect the endangered delta smelt, an indigenous species of fish.

As that order affects water delivery to all areas south of Stockton, the Antelope Valley has found itself in competition for other sources. Since the waterworks district and individual developers cannot negotiate for water on their own, it is up to the Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency and two other state water project contractors serving the area to do that.

Read the rest of this story from the San Fernando Business Journal by clicking here.

April 13, 2008 · Filed Under Antelope Valley, Development & Water