Shortly after the United Water Conservation District (United) filed suit against the City of San Buenaventura, April 9, 1991, the major pumpers in the basin formed an Advisory Committee obtaining consensus from the member pumpers to intervein in the lawsuit to protect their overlying water rights.  This caused a three-party litigation process.  Before Judgment could be entered the Advisory Committee had to have an ongoing presence as the Judgment created a 3 party Technical Advisory Committee, so the Committee incorporated as the Santa Paula Pumpers Association, Inc. (SPBPA).

Staff of the SPBPA annually receive groundwater production numbers from United and track a 7-year moving average production amounts for each pumper in the Basin.  Those pumpers that exceed their most current 7-year average are notified to lease or purchase more water rights.  Staff has assisted those in need to lease Temporary water allocations and match them up with those that have under pumped their allocation and are willing to transfer.

SPBPA staff assist United and the Ventura in the preparation and reviewing the content of the annual report before filing with the Court, which is formally approved by the Technical Advisory Committee made up of the three entities.

Membership certificates are issued to each of the members of the SPBPA and when land changes ownership the old certificate is canceled and a new one is issued to the new landowner.

The administrative and technical consultant cost of the SPBPA are funded by membership assessments generally annually based on effort required.  Special studies are also funded with membership assessments.  Yield of the Basin has been studied over the years and implementation of yield enhancement concepts are work in progress to make the Basin more sustainable.

New well drilling is monitored and only existing members who are in good standing with the SPBPA can be approved to drill new wells in the Basin.