Who We Are
Cadiz, Inc., Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company and the Fenner Valley Water Authority, in partnership with Native American Tribes, local, state and federal agencies and water districts will construct, own, and operate the Mojave Groundwater Bank. The public-private partnership represents a landmark collaboration with Native American Tribes to build the first large-scale, tribal-owned water infrastructure project off tribal lands in U.S. history.
Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company
Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company (“FGMWC”) is a California nonprofit mutual benefit corporation established in 2010 by Cadiz, Inc. as a California Mutual Water Company pursuant to California Public Utilities Code §§ 2704 and 2705 whose purpose is to develop, acquire, purchase, distribute, supply and deliver water on a wholesale basis to its members for irrigation, municipal, industrial, domestic or any other beneficial use at cost. FGMWC is responsible for overseeing groundwater recovery operations at the wellfield located in Cadiz, CA (the “Cadiz Wellfield”) , in compliance with the Groundwater Management, Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (“GMMMP”). Entities presently holding contractual rights to become members of the FGMWC (“Project Participants”) include:
- Santa Margarita Water District (“SMWD”), a California Water District;
- San Bernardino County, CA;
- Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians (“TMDCI”), a federally recognized Indian Tribe;
- Salton Sea Authority, a Joint Powers Agency whose members include Riverside County, Imperial County, Coachella Valley Water District, and TMDCI;
- Golden State Water Company, an investor-owned utility serving the City of Barstow, CA;
- Cucamonga Valley Water District, a California Water District;
- Fontana Water Company, an investor-owned utility serving the City of Fontana, CA;
- Solstra Communities California LLC, owner of Solomon Hills, a housing development in Santa Barbara County;
- City of Adelanto, CA; and
- City of Hesperia, CA.
Under the bylaws of the FGMWC, all parties with a contractual right to water supply or storage from the Project will receive proportionate membership shares prior to implementation and operation of the Project.
Fenner Valley Water Authority
Founded in 2014, the Fenner Valley Water Authority (“FVWA”) is a joint powers agency between Santa Margarita Water District, Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company, and San Bernardino County with SMWD serving as the “designated entity” of FVWA under California Government Code § 6509, whose purpose is to lease, maintain and eventually own the facilities and associated appurtenances necessary for the conveyance and delivery of water from the Mojave Groundwater Bank (MGB) and provide oversight for operation of the MGB in accordance with the groundwater monitoring plan approved by San Bernardino County.