BANNING: Regulatory dilemma threatens water supply

BY GAIL WESSON STAFF WRITER September 09, 2013; 06:18 PM

The water supply for 250 residents of the Banning Bench and a century-old resource for the city of Banning are threatened by complex permitting issues involving the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Forest Service.

Federal commission staff will be in Banning for a conference on Thursday, Sept. 12, with people involved in different aspects of the regulatory dilemma.

At issue is a 1913 flume that carries snow melt about 14 miles, from just above Raywood Flat in the San Gorgonio Wilderness area of the San Bernardino National Forest southwest to a turnout where Banning Heights Mutual Water Co. has a reservoir.

From there, water is piped uphill to shareholders and the excess percolates into ponds in the Banning Water Canyon for city use.

Southern California Edison has a federal permit to operate hydroelectric facilities on the flume but no longer generates power and has filed a federal application to surrender its license.

The city of Banning is seeking a federal permit to take over the flume operation and possibly pursue a hydroelectric project, said Duane Burk, city public works director.

But about 1,100 feet of pipeline crosses San Bernardino National Forest land. The Forest Service has notified Edison that the manmade improvements must be removed by Jan. 1, 2014.

Burk said the Forest Service determined that the flume facilities didn’t fit into the land management plan for the forest. Burk contends that hydroelectric facilities are allowed.

Edison last year sought renewal of its special-use permit for flume from the Forest Service, but apparently no action was taken on that request.

Historic agreements with the water company and city require Edison to make repairs to the flume or contribute sufficient funds for the other parties to do the work before Edison’s maintenance obligation ends. The San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency, a water wholesaler, is an interested party and has offered technical support to the other parties.

If the bench area north of Banning loses the water supply, “we have to work out something with the city for them to pump up nearly a thousand feet,” said Red Simmons, president of the Banning Heights board. “It’s a very important water source for the city of Banning and it’s going to be important for any growth Banning has.”

The conference with the federal commission staff is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Banning Civic Center council chambers, 99 E. Ramsey St.

Meanwhile, at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 5th District Supervisor Marion Ashley will ask fellow supervisors to support the city and the water company, and oppose the U.S. Forest Service ruling on the flume.

The city had scheduled “scoping” meetings this week to consider environmental impact issues tied to the flume removal but those meetings have been put on hold.

“That water coming down from the flume is a huge asset to the region,” said Jeff Davis, general manager for Pass Water Agency. “In the long term, if the region loses that water supply, that resource is going to have to come from us.”

The agency imports more costly water from the State Water Project that brings Northern California water to percolation ponds in Cherry Valley, where it can be tapped by Banning city wells.

Perry Gerdes, Banning public utilities superintendent, is seen in a 2007 photo standing by the concrete intake basin for the flume that delivers water to Banning Heights Mutual Water Co. and the city.

Perry Gerdes, Banning public utilities superintendent, is seen in a 2007 photo standing next to the flume that since 1913 has delivered snow melt from seven miles up a canyon to Banning Heights Mutual Water Co. and city spreading ponds. The future of the water resource is at stake in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proceedings.

Perry Gerdes, Banning public utilities superintendent, is seen in a 2007 photo in the Banning Water Canyon. Water delivered by a 1913-vintage flume ends up in spreading ponds, then is tapped by wells that serve the city. Continued use of the flume is subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proceedings.

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