John Mathews, a Partner at A to Z Law, was awarded the 14th Annual Richard V. Laubacher Water Conservation Award at the Association of Water Agencies of Ventura County’s annual Water Symposium on April 15th in Oxnard, California.

United Water Conservation District created the award in 1997 to recognize leaders in the area of water conservation, and named it after Richard V. Laubacher, a longtime United Director and a leader in water issues in Ventura County. The award is voted upon by United’s seven-member Board of Directors.

In presenting the award, United’s General Manager, Michael Solomon, noted that Mr. Mathews’ unique combination of knowledge and integrity has, for the past thirty-five years, fostered an atmosphere of cooperation and trust among those who shape water policy in Ventura County.

Throughout his career, Mr. Mathews has been instrumental in developing innovative water quality programs and water conservation policies designed to preserve and enhance Ventura County’s surface and groundwater supplies. Mr. Mathews currently serves as general counsel to numerous special districts, including Pleasant Valley County Water District, Casitas Municipal Water District and Triunfo Sanitation District. He also represents many agricultural landowners throughout Ventura County and facilitates the Oxnard Plains Users Group effort to investigate and develop recycled water for agricultural use.

The Oxnard Plain Users Group, commonly referred to as OPUG, has set a meeting for its third workshop on December 8th at 1:30 p.m. The workshop will be held at the Camarillo Library, 4104 Las Posas Road, Camarillo. John Mathews will serve as the facilitator for OPUG.

OPUG was established by the United Water Conservation District, the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency, and the Pleasant Valley County Water District to address groundwater issues on the Oxnard Plain, and to discuss possibilities of developing new water sources.

At the last OPUG meeting, stakeholders discussed alternatives and options for addressing the groundwater overdraft issues facing the Oxnard Plain. The stakeholders considered 12 potential options, including expanded utilization of recycled water, construction of groundwater injection wells, and expansion of additional surface water delivery facilities into the southeast Oxnard Plain. Each of the options was presented and discussed among the approximately 70 stakeholders in attendance.

This OPUG meeting will outline potential costs, including capital outlays for each of the 12 options, and the hope is that, after the stakeholders review the cost parameters for each option, the options can be narrowed down to 3 or 4. The group will then spend additional time and effort on the feasibility of each option, including such things as regulatory, environmental and intergovernmental issues, which can be detailed and then presented at a following OPUG meeting.

Watch this spot for more information about future OPUG meetings.