Searles Valley Minerals (Searles) is a pillar of the Trona and Ridgecrest communities, supporting the local economies with pioneering technologies since its founding in 1873. Searles provides good-paying jobs to 700 local residents, many with 20+ years of service, supporting generations of families. Today, the future of Searles and the jobs that employees rely on to support themselves, their families and the community, are at risk.
In a misguided attempt to manage the region’s overdrafted groundwater basin, the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (Authority) is singling out Searles with a hefty new “Replenishment Fee,” choosing winners and losers in the Indian Wells Valley Basin. The arbitrary and exorbitant new fee will not only increase water costs by 7,000% — or approximately $6 million per year — but will push Searles to extinction after more than 140 years of operation and amidst one of our country’s worst economic recessions.
Searles is calling for a more reasonable path forward – one that respects our senior water rights and recognizes the invaluable role the company plays in supporting the region’s economy and quality of life.
Automatically send a letter to your elected officials today by filling out the form below and clicking the “send email” button. Urge your representatives to delay the exorbitant replenishment fee threatening Searles by increasing the company’s water costs by 7,000 percent or $6 million per year!
The Authority’s efforts to manage the groundwater basin must be more transparent, collaborative and fair to the entire community. Help Searles by urging your representatives to call for a more just and equitable process – one that respects Searles’ historic water rights and recognizes the invaluable role the company plays in supporting the region’s economy and quality of life.
Learn more about Save Searles and how we can stop the unfair new groundwater fee:
