Although each group offered $18 million in separate bids, the deals eventually fell apart. The losing groups claim that the deal between the City of Industry and the Boy Scouts was influenced by Scouts board member, John H. Semcken III.

He is vice-president of Majestic Realty Co., a firm that helped broker the purchase. The environmentalists also fear that the development agency will build subdivisions on the land, although City of Industry officials have denied any intentions of developing the parcel. The city still has to conduct environmental reviews to see if building a reservoir on the site is feasible.