water for sorghum field 5.5 million gallons in 2 months

Ventura Ranch – Case No. PL23‑0051

Environmental Baseline Concerns at 4884 N. Ventura Avenue

Submitted for the January 22, 2026 Ventura County Planning Commission Hearing

This page documents key environmental, hydrologic, and land‑use issues at 4884 N. Ventura Avenue that must be addressed before Ventura County relies on a CEQA §15183 exemption for Case No. PL23‑0051. All information is based on public records, water‑meter documentation, and firsthand observation by immediate abutting residents.

Pesticide History and Post‑Application Soil Disturbance

The parcel’s historical pesticide report shows the use of multiple long‑lasting agricultural chemicals. These compounds affect:

• Soil integrity

• Groundwater and surface‑water quality

• Runoff into the Ventura River watershed

The applicant has disclosed that soil sampling occurred “sometime in mid‑2025.” This sampling took place 18–20 months after the May 12, 2023 permit application and after extensive site disturbance, including:

• Orchard removal

• Soil blading and grading

• Installation of sorghum seed

• Installation of irrigation infrastructure

• Multiple herbicide cycles

• Mulching and groundcover manipulation

• Flooding and hydrologic alteration events

Because these activities occurred after the permit application, the soil report cannot represent the pre‑project baseline required under CEQA.

Water‑Use Evidence and Hydrologic Alteration

Water‑meter readings taken from the public easement confirm that more than 5.5 million gallons of water were applied to the sorghum field between mid‑October and mid‑December 2023.

Irrigation patterns included:

• Average daily operation of ~12 hours

• Multiple continuous irrigation cycles lasting 24–48 hours

• Flow rates consistent with industrial‑scale application

Ventura Water confirmed that this water was billed at agricultural rates.

Inline Meter‑Reading Evidence

October 15, 2023 Meter Reading

(From “oct 15 2023 meter reading 4884.pdf”)

The document shows the meter face with the “G.P.M.” indicator and the 4" AWWA C750 submersible meter assembly. This reading corresponds to active irrigation during the early phase of the undisclosed sorghum watering period.

December 10, 2023 Meter Reading

(From “dec 10 2023 meter reading 4884.pdf”)

The document shows the meter face with cumulative volume indicators and the same 4" AWWA C750 submersible meter. This reading reflects the high cumulative totals consistent with multi‑million‑gallon usage.

These two time‑stamped meter readings demonstrate:

• Continuous irrigation across the entire October–December period

• High‑volume flow rates consistent with industrial‑scale watering

• A clear, documented pattern of water use that was never disclosed in the project record

Cost‑to‑Value Imbalance

• Estimated market value of a sorghum crop of this size: $7,000–$8,000

• Estimated cost of the water applied during this period: $25,000–$35,000

This disparity raises reasonable questions about:

• Whether the sorghum field constituted a legitimate agricultural operation

• Whether the water use materially altered the environmental baseline

• Whether the agricultural billing classification is supported by actual agricultural activity

The scale of water use, combined with the absence of any harvest or agricultural output, suggests that the irrigation served a purpose other than crop production.

Documented Site Disturbance

Time‑stamped photographs and video evidence show:

• Installation of sorghum seed

• Installation of irrigation lines

• Prolonged irrigation cycles

• Soil disturbance and vegetation removal

• Repeated herbicide applications

• Seasonal regrowth and abandonment of the sorghum field

These activities significantly altered the site prior to the mid‑2025 soil sampling.

Requested Planning Commission Actions

Because the County is relying on a CEQA §15183 exemption, the accuracy of the environmental baseline is essential. We respectfully request that the Planning Commission require Ventura County Planning to obtain and disclose:

• Complete agricultural documentation for the sorghum planting

• All agricultural water‑use records from Ventura Water

• The full pesticide history and any related environmental assessments

• Documentation supporting the agricultural billing classification

• Any crop plans, harvest records, or agricultural declarations

These materials are necessary to determine whether the sorghum field was a legitimate agricultural operation or a post‑application site alteration that invalidates the CEQA baseline.

Request for Coastal Commission Review

Because the property lies within the Ventura River coastal watershed and the County’s certified Coastal Zone, we also request that the Planning Commission forward all materials to the California Coastal Commission for independent review.

The Coastal Commission has jurisdiction over development affecting:

• Soil disturbance

• Pesticide persistence

• Hydrology and water‑quality impacts

• Floodplain and watershed conditions

• Coastal‑resource protection

Given the documented disturbances, the 5.5 million gallons of water applied between mid‑October and mid‑December 2023, the pesticide history, and the reliance on a post‑disturbance, mid‑2025 soil report, Coastal Commission review is necessary to ensure consistency with the Coastal Act and the certified Local Coastal Program