November 11, 2024
Joint Statement with The Ridland Group
The Ridland Group has completed a state-of-the-art plan to capture stormwater originating from the Ranch Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano. The new infrastructure will keep contaminated stormwater out of San Juan Creek, an important waterway that supports aquatic habitat and flows into Doheny State Beach. The plan resolves Orange County Coastkeeper’s concerns and cements the two groups’ alliance in support of clean water.
“We extend our sincere congratulations to The Ridland Group for completing this project ahead of schedule,” said Garry Brown, Founder and President of Orange County Coastkeeper. “We are excited to observe the new system during the upcoming rainy season and are confident in its success.” Coastkeeper hopes the stormwater capture system can serve as a national model, proving that large-scale equestrian centers can be effective watershed stewards.
The Riding Park is now ready to host equestrian events in 2025. “This is a huge stride forward for the equestrian community,” said Hillary Ridland, CEO of The Ridland Group. “With this accomplished, we can get started on all of the upgrades we have planned for the park! We thank Coastkeeper for its cooperation as we found our way to the finish line.”
June 5, 2024
Coastkeeper Blog Story
Orange County Coastkeeper, The Ridland Group, and the City of San Juan Capistrano have reached an agreement to address the water quality concerns of Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park (Riding Park) while allowing equestrian events to continue throughout the 2024 season. The Riding Park did not host any equestrian events in May due to the responsible parties’ failure to bring the facility into compliance with the Clean Water Act by the agreed-upon April 15, 2024 deadline. The Riding Park is adjacent to San Juan Creek, an important waterway for aquatic habitat which empties into the popular Doheny State Beach.
“Ultimately, we aim to be a voice for San Juan Creek and protect it from pollution, which meant enforcing the terms of our Consent Decree,” said Sarah Spinuzzi, legal director of Orange County Coastkeeper. “I’m glad we’ve been able to correct course and work alongside The Ridland Group to create a path towards Clean Water Act compliance. This agreement is a win-win for the community as it will allow local equestrian events to continue while providing the highest level of protection for San Juan Creek and Doheny State Beach.”
Approved by the Central District Court of California, the agreement sets clear project milestones and penalties for non-compliance. By June 3, 2024, the Riding Park had to be re-graded to ensure stormwater from equestrian stabling areas would be retained on-site and not discharged into San Juan Creek. Orange County Coastkeeper staff visited the site on June 4 and confirmed the work was completed.
The re-grading is an interim solution for hosting equestrian events in 2024 while ensuring Clean Water Act and Consent Decree compliance. By the end of 2024, The Ridland Group must create a comprehensive stormwater control plan involving infiltration systems and further grading. Penalties within the agreement include canceling all 2025 equestrian events if stormwater infrastructure is not installed by the end of 2024 and a $50,000 per day penalty for any discharges into San Juan Creek. For full agreement terms, click here.
