Request For Additional Water Denied In Fire-Prone Area

CALABASAS, CA — Drought is hitting California hard, and Las Virgenes-area locals are concerned about local wildfire risk.

The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District' request for additional water resources amid an ongoing drought was denied, the district announced on Aug. 3.

The district requested the additional allotment from the California Department of Water Resources on July 1 considering most of the Las Virgenes area is designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones by Cal Fire. The request was officially denied on July 29.

In the request denial co-written by Cal Fire, authorities advised Las Virgenes residents mitigate fire in other ways, including hardening structures with fire resistant building materials, removing dead or dying vegetation, implementing a fuel management program and more.

The district's key concern is having water in case of an emergency, like an earthquake or major fire, considering their allocation from state authorities have been dramatically reduced, the water district said.

“We’re frustrated by the decision but understand the state’s challenge to balance the needs of more than 27 million people receiving water from the State Water Project, along with the real possibility of another dry year,” general manager of the Las Virgenes Water District David Pedersen said in a news release.

The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District has garnered nationwide attention for its strict conservation practices in recent months which, based on recent data, seem to be paying off. Local potable water use was down 37 percent in June 2022 compared to June 2020.

“LVMWD is pivoting towards alternate strategies to help our communities be better prepared for the threat of wildfire. We are also actively investigating other options to supplement our limited supply.”

Read More:

• Local Water Use Down 37 Percent Since 2020; Enforcement Continues
• Calabasas Water District Declares Local Drought Emergency
• Strict Water Restrictions Take Effect In Calabasas