Judge Rules with City in First Step of Lawsuit Brought by San Juan Hills Golf Club

From the city of San Juan Capistrano:

San Juan Capistrano officials announced today that Orange County Superior Court Judge Peter J. Wilson has ruled in favor of the city when he rejected an injunction on groundwater pumping at two of the city’s eight groundwater wells.

The lawsuit is brought by San Juan Hills Golf Club.

“We’re pleased with today’s decision,” said Mayor Sam Allevato. “But it doesn’t solve the drought. We would like to continue to work with the golf club – a valued and important local business – to achieve their conservation and operational goals. Judge Wilson’s decision, though positive for the City, does not lessen our commitment to supporting our businesses one bit.”

City’s Stewardship of Local Groundwater

At issue in the lawsuit is the use and amount of water available in the San Juan Groundwater Basin. The city provides roughly 40 percent of its drinking water supply from groundwater through its innovative Groundwater Recovery Plant.

The city, in conjunction with the San Juan Basin Authority, voluntarily shut down production at two wells located near San Juan Hills Golf Club in September in response to concerns about possible stress on surface vegetation. Such careful biological monitoring is required as part of the careful management of the Basin and is being done currently to determine the possible causes of the vegetation stress.

Part of the city’s ongoing water management strategy is working with local businesses and residents to reduce overall water use.

Judge Wilson has set a tentative trial date for August 2015.

PHOTO Patch photo credit: Renee Schiavone.

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