U.S. Forest Service Halts Arrowhead Water Operations in San Bernardino Mountains

The U.S. Forest Service has ordered BlueTriton Brands, which bottles Arrowhead water, to cease drawing water from the San Bernardino Mountains.

The decision, announced in a letter from District Ranger Michael Nobles on July 26, mandates the cessation of water extraction operations in the San Bernardino National Forest and the submission of a removal plan for all equipment.

BlueTriton’s permit application was denied after California’s Water Resources Control Board issued a similar order last year. Environmental activists, who have long argued that the company’s operations have drastically reduced creek flow and caused environmental harm, particularly to Strawberry Creek, hailed the decision as a major victory.

Strawberry Creek is a significant tributary of the Santa Ana River. Originating from springs in the San Bernardino Mountains, the creek flows through a diverse ecosystem that supports a variety of wildlife and plant species.

BlueTriton has contested the permit denial in court, arguing that the decision lacks legal merit and is unsupported by facts. The company highlighted its century-long history of operating under a series of particular use permits and pointed out that a portion of the water is used by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for firefighting needs. The tribe benefits from the water pipeline and has declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The Forest Service’s decision follows a lawsuit filed by the Save Our Forest Association, claiming the agency illegally allowed BlueTriton to operate under an expired permit. In response, Nobles stated that BlueTriton had failed to provide necessary compliance information and noted discrepancies in the company’s water usage reports.

Despite the Forest Service’s directive, BlueTriton has been granted a temporary 30-day stay to continue supplying water for the tribe’s fire prevention needs. The company has vowed to explore all legal and regulatory options to challenge the order, maintaining that the decision is arbitrary and capricious.

The springs in the San Bernardino Mountains, historically used for bottling water since 1906, have been a focal point of contention, with environmental groups and state officials scrutinizing the company’s water rights and environmental impact.

For more details, you can read the full story on KTLA and the Los Angeles Times websites (the LA Times requires a subscription to read).