Groundwater Authority reports audit completion, social-media outreach and progress on Rose Valley monitoring well

Ridgecrest — Councilmember Heyman reported on the Sept. 10 meeting of the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (GA), summarizing an audit milestone, outreach decisions and progress on a proposed monitoring well in the Rose Valley area.

Heyman told the council the GA received and filed the 2023 audit with no major negative findings after delays caused in part by personnel and procurement changes. The GA expects its 2024 audit to be available soon. Heyman said the GA also approved creating a Facebook page for outreach but decided to post without comments enabled; the board concluded it was better to start the account and revisit moderation if needed.

On technical work, Heyman reported continued coordination with the Bureau of Land Management over cultural-resource surveys and permitting for a proposed second monitoring well in the Rose Valley area (north of town toward Little Lake). He said the Navy’s contract with Coastal for well work was extended through Aug. 31, 2026, to accommodate permitting and survey delays. The monitoring well is intended to help the GA assess flows from Rose Valley into the Indian Wells Valley groundwater basin.

Heyman also summarized legislative activity: AB 1466 remained on the governor’s desk and AB 1413 was parked until January 2026 for further consideration. Public participants on the GA call described recent court activity related to earlier adjudication phases and urged continued cooperative mediation on science and water-management planning.

No action was required of the Ridgecrest City Council; the report was informational.