A trial is expected in late August or early September 2026 to determine which of three competing proposed physical solutions for the Ventura River Watershed will be adopted by the court. The proposal backed by the City of Ojai, Casitas MWD, and the Ojai/East Ojai Pumpers Group preserves OBGMA's exclusive jurisdiction over the Ojai Basin and does not adjudicate or alter existing water rights. However, an alternative state proposal includes minimum flow requirements on San Antonio Creek and costly monitoring programs that could eventually lead to mandated flow augmentation — a concept directors discussed as potentially unworkable and potentially threatening to growers' water rights. A July 1 court hearing on Casitas as the proposed management entity is the next milestone.
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