(December 14)   PHELAN—The Phelan Pinon Hills Community Services District has paid $10.75 million to obtain permanent pumping rights to 2,335 acre-feet of water per year in the High Desert’s Oeste Aquifer.
The purchase, undertaken with a $7.5 million loan from iBank and $3.25 million in cash reserves the district had on hand, will also include 160 acres of land on the Meadowbrook Dairy, which includes an existing well.
The Oeste zone covers a considerable expanse, with what is referred to as its upper area located beneath Wrightwood and its lower area in the vicinity of El Mirage.
The district previously had annual pumping rights to 1,146 acre-feet from the Oeste Aquifer. The just acquired water rights now give the district unfettered access to 3,751 acre-feet of groundwater per year from the Oeste sub-basin.