Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park has reopened after a month of being shut down.
The park, located in San Juan Capistrano, had been closed since April 15 after its operators, the Ridland Group, failed to comply with a settlement agreement that required the group to construct a storm drain on the property.
But on May 20, an agreement was reached between the nonprofit Orange County Coastkeepers and the Ridland Group that allows Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park to reopen under a strict set of provisions.
The park must install an interim stormwater management plan by June 3, which includes constructing a collection area and grade high points to block paths of drainage, move the horse bath and cooling area away from the edge of the San Juan Creek and complete a new topographic survey.
If the Ridland Group does not complete this plan by June 3, the group will pay $25,000 per day to the California State Parks Foundation, according to the agreement, and the money would then be used for “an environmentally beneficial project” by the foundation.
Additionally, according to the agreement, the Ridland Group must install groundwater monitoring wells, complete a grading project for a containment pond and send an environmental report to San Juan Capistrano by Aug. 15. Again, if this provision is not met, the Ridland Group will face even more fines.
The overall construction of the stormwater infiltration system, meant to retain all wastewater and stormwater run-off, needs to be completed by Nov. 15.
If the park has not completed the stormwater infiltration system by the Nov. 15 deadline, the park will not be allowed to host equestrian events for the remainder of 2024. And if any part of the agreement is not completed by Dec. 31, the park must cancel all equestrian events scheduled for 2025.
If at any point wastewater is discovered draining into the San Juan Creek, the Ridland Group will be fined $50,000 per day, payable to California State Parks Foundation, the agreement said.
As part of the agreement, the group will pay $112,500 to OC Coastkeeper for legal fees and future park monitoring.
In a statement, the Ridland Group president Robert Rindland confirmed the agreement, saying that it “assures that all equestrian activities at the park will operate in a manner that provides the highest degree of protection to the environment and the surrounding watershed.”
“We are profoundly grateful to OC Coastkeeper for their hard work and cooperative efforts to assure the long-term future of equestrian events at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park under the strictest of environmental protocols,” Ridland said.
The next event scheduled for the riding park is the Blenheim June Regional, from June 7-8, according to its website.
Matisse Reischl, San Juan Capistrano’s assistant city manager, said that the city is “very pleased” that an agreement has been reached.
“The city appreciates the continued cooperation of OC Coastkeeper and the Ridland Group and is excited for the return of equestrian events to the Riding Park,” Reischl said.
In 2017, OC Coastkeeper sued San Juan Capistrano and the Ridland Group, alleging Clean Water Act violations from horse-washing water discharge that contained feces, soap and urine.
As part of a settlement agreement, the city took on nearly $8 million in necessary improvements to prevent contaminated water from running off into nearby San Juan Creek. But the Ridland Group did not put in a storm drain before the settlement’s April 15 deadline as stipulated, according to San Juan Capistrano officials.
The 40-acre riding park has hosted many nationally recognized tournaments and events, including the longtime Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo and Olympic equestrian team trials and other team events. With a large, manicured grass field, the riding park is conducive for equestrian competitions and jumping contests.
While not a stabling facility, the riding park does house some horses during events.
During the suspension of operations at the park, the annual San Juan Capistrano International tournament and the Blenheim Surf and Turf Classic were moved to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.
