Welcome to The Great Indian Wells Valley Water War ™

November 11, 2026 (Originally Published)

Indian Wells Valley and Ridgecrest California

Below are the downloadable closing trial briefs filed by the parties to the Indian Wells Valley’s Comprehensive Adjudication Phase 2 “Safe Yield” trial.

Also included in this Post is a Letter sent to the Kern County Board of Supervisors by the IWV Water District regarding the chair rotation on the GA as well as Kern County’s failure to provide a general counsel in accordance with the Joint Powers Agreement. This has resulted in the domination of the GA by the City of Ridgecrest and continuous billing of attorney’s fees by the city to the GA for over 2 years.

All documents relative to the Phase 2 Comprehensive Adjudication may be found on the District’s website here:

https://www.iwvwd.com/basin-adjudication-important-documents

IWV Technical Working Group and IWV Water District Phase 2 Closing Brief

Department of Justice Phase 2 Closing Brief

IWV Groundwater Authority – City of Ridgecrest Phase 2 Closing Brief

Letter Re: Groundwater Authority Chair Rotation, Assignment of General Counsel by Kern County

The letter below was sent to the Kern County Board of Supervisors by the Indian Wells Valley Water District regarding the rotation of the chair and assignment of a general counsel by Kern County.

Excerpt:

The District requests that the Board Of Supervisors ensure that Kern County fulfills its responsibilities
under the JPA, Bylaws and Retainer Agreements and assume the Chairperson position Of the IWVGA for
calendar year 2027 and provide General Counsel for the IWVGA as well. The City’s dominant influence over
the IWVGA, coupled with Kern County’s unwillingness to assume its leadership position as Chairperson, has
jeopardized the residents of the Indian Wells Valley through questionable decision making by the IWVGA and
has cost District Ratepayers and Kem County residents an amount approaching Thirty Million Dollars
in Groundwater Extraction Fees and Replenishment Fees imposed and collected by the IWVGA
to date.