ONTARIO, Calif., May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Four Inland Empire water agencies, the cities of Chino, Montclair, and Ontario, along with the Monte Vista Water District, have submitted a joint letter to the California Water Commission (CWC) requesting a review of the Chino Basin Program's (CBP) ongoing eligibility for state funding under the Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP).

The agencies cite a need for greater transparency and clarity regarding both the financial framework of the CBP and its long-term implications for local groundwater supply.

"We look forward to working with IEUA to secure the clarity and commitments needed to ensure this project serves the best interests of all stakeholders," said Ontario City Councilmember Debra Porada. "We are asking for clear financial terms and an open dialogue before public resources are committed."

In the letter addressed to CWC Chair Fern Steiner, the agencies express concern over the lack of formal financial commitments from retail water providers in IEUA's service area. They note that a previously proposed five-year rate study, which could have provided greater insight into project cost allocation, was reduced to two years without including specific program costs, raising questions about how the non-public share of the project will be funded.

Additionally, the agencies point out that property tax revenues are being allocated toward the CBP without a full understanding of local impacts or consensus among member agencies.

Recent data from the Chino Basin Watermaster has added urgency to the conversation. A projected decline of 14,000 acre-feet in the basin's Safe Yield, the largest decrease in its history, highlights the importance of carefully considering how local water supplies are managed and allocated.

"We all recognize the need to plan for the future, but that planning must begin with protecting the water needs of our own communities," said Chino Mayor Pro-Tem Curtis Burton.

The signatories reaffirm their previously stated concerns from 2021 and call for the CWC to temporarily pause further funding decisions until IEUA can demonstrate broader regional support and resolve outstanding questions regarding cost-sharing and supply impacts.

"This is an opportunity for a reset," said Monte Vista Water District Board President Sandra Rose. "We're committed to working collaboratively to find a path forward that meets both local and state needs."

The group has also requested a meeting with the CWC to further discuss their position and explore how a shared approach can be developed moving forward.

"Our region deserves a transparent, locally supported water strategy," added Montclair Mayor Javier "John" Dutrey. "We welcome the chance to work with IEUA and the state to achieve that."

For more information on the CBP and the agencies' ongoing efforts to support regional transparency and accountability, please visit www.ontarioca.gov/government/municipal-utilities-company.

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SOURCE City of Ontario