Federal and State Authorities Back California’s Order to Halt BlueTriton’s Water Extraction from San Bernardino Mountains

The federal government has supported California state regulators in ordering BlueTriton Brands, the company behind Arrowhead bottled water, to cease drawing water from the San Bernardino Mountains. This decision follows concerns from environmental activists who argue that the company’s water extraction is damaging the local ecosystem, particularly the wildlife in Strawberry Creek.

BlueTriton has been sourcing water from springs in these mountains since 1906, but environmentalists have increasingly raised alarms about the potential harm caused by this practice.

About a year ago, California’s Water Resources Control Board issued an order to BlueTriton to stop using water from the San Bernardino National Forest, where the springs are located. This decision was grounded in the belief that the extraction of water from public lands could be detrimental to the environment.

The U.S. Forest Service recently reinforced this stance by denying BlueTriton’s permit to continue drawing water from the area, marking a significant step in the long-running battle over water rights and environmental protection in the region.

Environmental activists have welcomed the federal and state actions, seeing them as a victory for conservation efforts aimed at protecting Strawberry Creek and the surrounding ecosystem. They argue that continued water extraction could further threaten the delicate balance of the region’s wildlife and natural resources.

However, BlueTriton has strongly disagreed with the decision, asserting that it is not based on factual evidence. The company maintains that it has a long history of responsible water use, supported by scientific studies.

In response to the permit denial, BlueTriton emphasized that its water management practices are founded on rigorous hydrological and ecological studies. According to the company, these studies demonstrate that their operations have not caused any significant environmental impact on the Strawberry Canyon watershed.

BlueTriton has argued that their century-long stewardship of the water and land in the region has been conducted with care and has not harmed the local ecosystem.

Despite the company’s defense, the controversy over Arrowhead water and the San Bernardino Mountains springs is likely to continue, as the federal and state decisions have set a precedent for stricter regulation of water resources on public lands.

The ongoing debate highlights the tension between commercial interests and environmental conservation, with both sides presenting conflicting interpretations of the data and the impact of water extraction on the environment.