The pause in pumping represents a significant achievement in Channelkeeper’s ongoing efforts to protect the Ventura River from being overpumped and to provide a lifeline for the many species that rely on the river’s water to survive.
After years of legal proceedings and negotiations, Channelkeeper and the City of Ventura reached a partial settlement agreement in 2019 that established a minimum river flow threshold that would trigger the cessation of pumping. This summer, when flows reached those benchmarked levels, the City stopped all pumping, marking a positive step forward for the health of the river, its ecosystems, and the surrounding community.
Channelkeeper’s legal action is still pending as the City of Ventura carries out an adjudication involving all water rights holders in the watershed to allocate water supplies. Until the adjudication is finalized, we’re pleased to share that Channelkeeper’s settlement agreement will keep the Ventura River flowing.
Read KCLU’s news coverage here.