Opponents of Golf Course File Suit

Opponents of the proposed Farmont Golf Course development in the Ojai Valley have filed a lawsuit against the county seeking to overturn an earlier decision by the Board of Supervisors that will allow ground water from the upper Ventura River Basin to be used for irrigation.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in Ventura County Superior Court by the Environmental Coalition of Ventura County and the Friends of the Ventura River, alleges that the supervisors’ June 11 vote to permit Pasadena-based Farmont Corp. to use ground water for the development near Highway 150 would lead to longer and more frequent water shortages in Oak View, Meiners Oaks and Casitas Springs.

Opponents say the 204-acre golf course would consume an average of 236 acre-feet, or nearly 77 million gallons, of ground water per year.

They also contend that pulling water from the already overdrafted Ventura River Basin--which has its ground water consumed faster than is replenished--would imperil any chances of restoring local populations of steelhead trout, which were nominated last month for listing as an endangered species.

Development of the Farmont Golf Course was originally approved in February 1993, under the condition that a source for reclaimed irrigation water be obtained by the year 2001.

Environmental Coalition members challenged the project’s approval at the time, stating that the county General Plan’s policy regarding new golf courses required reclaimed water be used from the first day of operation. However, the county changed its General Plan policy six months later, giving developers greater flexibility in obtaining sources for irrigation water, such as ground water that also can be used for drinking.

In March, a request by Farmont to remove the reclaimed water provision from its operating permit was denied by the county Planning Commission. The commission’s action was reversed by the supervisors in June.