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Address your comments and questions to those on the Contacts list below.
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< < < REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED > > >
No future date has been set for the re-opening of registration.
If this does occur, it will be posted here
and may depend on the recent court decision and/or
on the events of the next few months.
See the June 30, 2008 entry below.
CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES
UPDATED 09/19/08
Member Meetings
All member meetings will be announced via email or snail mail or
contact Sandi Hughes at admin@aacwr.info for missed updates.
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Our Purpose & History
Our Purpose
To provide maximum mutual benefit to our members by equitably sharing the cost of legal representation in defending our individual water rights relative to the claims of the Cahuilla and Ramona Bands of Cahuilla Indians.
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We have no other agenda than our stated purpose. |
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We have expert water litigation counsel providing the best and most cost effective legal representation available. |
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We strive to keep our membership informed about the current litigation and the claims of the Tribes. |
Our History
We began coalescing as a group of local property owners following the initiation of legal action in late 2006 by the Cahuilla and Ramona Bands of Cahuilla Indians regarding their claims to the waters of the Santa Margarita River System. Our membership has grown to nearly 1500 individuals and is still growing. We now include individuals owning property in Anza, Aguanga, and Sage in Riverside County and Aguanga, Chihuahua Valley, Sunshine Summit, Oak Grove, and the Warner Springs areas of San Diego County.
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In The News
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Current
Court Case Status
NEW June 30, 2008 San Diego District Court Hearing
On June 30th, Federal Court Judge Gordon Thompson granted the Motion to Stay requested by the Ramona, Chauilla, Pechanga, Rancho Water District, and the United States of America. The judge instructed that "settlement negotiations" should commence. In ninety days the court will hold a "Status Conference" to determine the progress of negotiations. ~ More information and court documentation will be posted as it becomes available.
February 25, 2008 Transcript of Status Call
The judge sets new time limit on serving property owners named as defendants in the litigation.
July 18, 2007 Court Order (Judgment)
The judge ruled that the Cahuilla Tribes must serve every property owner individually rather than mass notify the involved citizens of the tribes' intent to sue for water rights.
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Next
AACWR Meeting
Only registered members can receive mail regarding our meetings. If you have questions regarding the current litigation, please refer to the contact information below.
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Historical
Case Documents
1966 Modified Judgment and Decree
United States Government v. Fallbrook Public Utility District
Court modified judgements from 1940, and 1961 through 1963 regarding water usage on specific parcels and retained continuing jurisdiction of all water usage of surface and underground or sub-surface waters within the Santa Margarita River Watershed.
1908 Winters v. United States
Online and downloadable PDF explanation of the Winters Doctrine a precedent setting case in Western water rights history. (further reading)
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Maps
Santa Margarita Watershed Map PDF
Source: Redrafted Santa Margarita Watershed Management Plan (March 2005), Appendix C
Link: http://www.ktua.com/sm/index.php
1958 Cahuilla Land Classification Map
1958 Ramona Land Classification Map
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Water Studies & Reports
02/27/04 Cahuilla Valley Groundwater Basin - Hydrology Report
Includes references from Jenks, James, Watermaster, Santa Margarita River Watershed. 2000. Letter to Brian Moniz,
Groundwater Section, Southern District, California Department of Water Resources. July
1. Document also saved on web server and downloadable here:
PDF
1958 Cahuilla Water Rights Studies
Records a decline in Cahuilla Reservation population from 1914 - 1958. Also notes past use of irrigation water, water table levels, water availability
from the Cahuilla Creek, and how the areas of Anza and the Terwilliger Basin affected the reservation access to water. In 1958 it was indicated that "some
development" of water usage for irrigation "was possible".
1958 Ramona Water Rights Studies
Defines the Ramona Reservation location and current water avilablility and usage. The study likens water usage on the Ramona reservation to that of the
Cahuilla Reservation stating that such consumption requires 1.74 acre feet per acre in addition to natural rainfall expectations at that time. The study indicates
that, as of 1958, "Further development of reservation lands in the Santa Margarita watershed will require the importing of water to supplement the normal rainfall
and the springs in order to assure a dependable water supply for irrigation and other purposes." [Water Requirements, Page 3]. Included in the study is a
map indicating what portion of the Ramona Reservation is within the Santa Margarita Watershed, as nearly 50% falls within another watershed area. [Referenced on
Page 3. Map on Page 7]
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Register
to Participate - Forms
Registration is currently closed for the 90-day Stay currently in effect. Check back on or after October 1, 2008. Forms and instructions will be available here at that time.
For questions concerning registration and other water rights issues, email admin@aacwr.info.
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Contacts
Our preferred means of communication is email as it reduces postage expenses. If you have access to email but haven't provided us with your address, please send it to us at admin@aacwr.info.
General Administration or Participation questions can also be directed to admin@aacwr.info. This address will be used to send you AACWR correspondence if we have your email address. Therefore, please add this address to your contact manager so that our correspondence doesn't end up in your SPAM file. If you would like to use email but don't have an email address, please contact Sandi Hughes at 951-312-6858. She may be able to help you obtain email without cost.
MAILING ADDRESS
Anza-Aguanga Citizens for Water Rights (AACWR)
PO Box 391845
Anza, CA 92539
STEERING COMMITTEE
Gordon Lanik - 951-805-6800 cell
Flavia Krieg, Legal Liaison to James Markman, AACWR Attorney
Note: We ask you not to contact our attorney directly but address your legal comments
and questions to Flavia, via Sandi at admin@aacwr.info. Thank you.
Pat Ellington
Robyn Garrison
Hillary Willhite
LITIGATION COMMITTEE
Greg Burnett
Gordon Lanik
Flavia Krieg
DATABASE MANAGER & WEBMASTER
Sandi Hughes - admin@aacwr.info, 951-312-6858 cell
LEGAL FIRM
RICHARDS|WATSON|GERSHON website
1 Civic Center Circle, PO Box 1059
Brea, CA 92822-1059
Click names for biographies
Attorney James L. Markman
Co-Counsels: Tilden B. Kim and Erin Powers
Note: We ask you not to contact our attorney directly but name your legal comments
and questions to Flavia Krieg (aacwr@earthlink.net), our legal liaison, for
consideration or answers. Thank you.
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
Jeff Stone, District 3 Supervisor
4080 Lemon Street, 5th Floor
Riverside, CA 92501
951-955-1060
951-955-2197 fax
1-866-383-2203 toll free
Email: district3@rcbos.org
Websites: http://district3.co.riverside.ca.us and water rights page as well as
www.supjeffstone.org for San Diego District Court documents and maps
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