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Cadiz Inc. still hopes to drill for water under sensitive public lands in our arid California Deserts near Joshua Tree National Park, pulling out 50,000 acre-feet of water each year and lowering desert aquifers.
Cadiz Campaign
More than 30 years ago, a company called Cadiz Inc. came up with a plan to pump water from aquifers in the Mojave Desert. Ten years ago, late desert activist Elden Hughes and other Sierra Club members who had worked hard on the Desert Protection Act opposed the project that could forever harm the desert’s ecosystem and drain one of its most precious resources.
Now, the plan resurfaces anew as do concerns about its viability and impact on the land.
Cadiz Dunes Wilderness. Photo by Kyle Sullivan, BLM California
Cadiz Dunes Wilderness. Photo by Kyle Sullivan, BLM California
Major Concerns and Issues with the Cadiz Plan
It’s unsustainable: The proposed location within the Mojave has low precipitation. The amount of water planned for removal and sale is above that of the desert’s recharge rate. Meaning water levels will drop every year until the desert is drained and no more can be removed.
Adverse impacts on federal lands and water resources: The National Park Service believes Cadiz Inc.’s claim of no impact is inconclusive at this time. Models looking over the next 100 years (as opposed to only the first 50 in which the project will be undertaken) imply ecosystem and environmental impacts that could continue even after the project ends.
Which means their analysis is flawed. The analysis suffers in reliability as a result of the flawed hydrologic modeling.
Burrowing Owl. Photo by Karney Lee for US Fish and Wildlife Service.
A win for Cadiz Objectors
Stalls in the Cadiz Proposal
More stringent federal environmental legislation and peer-reviewed research opposing the Cadiz project have thrown a wrench in the works for Cadiz Inc.
[Top header image: Bonanza Spring. Clipper Mountains, Mojave Trails, CA. This spring would be directly affected by Cadiz, Inc.’s plans to pump underground aquifer water from the Mojave Desert to LA. ©2017, Michael E. Gordon, all rights reserved.]
Cadiz Posts
Cadiz Water Mining Project Falters with Public Scrutiny, Election Setbacks
Posted on 2 December 2020 By John Monsen LA County Water District Efforts to Support Desert-Damaging Water Mining Project Falter as Cadiz Inc. Suffers Major Election Setbacks Updated 12/07/20 Cadiz Inc, a Los Angeles-based corporation, still hopes to drill for water...
Governor signs legislation dealing a major blow to the Cadiz Inc. Mojave Desert water mining project
Today Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 307 into law, dealing a major setback to the Cadiz Inc water mining project in the Mojave Desert. The legislation, a victory for the Sierra Club and its allies, will require a stringent safety review by the State Lands...
Cadiz Inc paying the Three Valleys Water District to conduct “independent” research on impacts of the Cadiz Water Project
Through an intermediary Cadiz Inc is funding a Pomona Valley Water District up to $1,078,000 to research the impacts of the Cadiz water mining project on the Mojave Desert.1 The initial study overseen by the Three Valleys Municipal Water District costing $100,000 was...
Help preserve Mojave Desert water resources
Posted on 20 July 2012 By J. Robinson Don't steal Mojave Desert water for Orange County lawns and pools! Orange County’s Santa Margarita Water District and The Cadiz, Inc. are proposing to divert precious Mojave Desert water resources. This project is an aggressive...
A big water grab that won’t die
Posted on 9 July 2012 By From Sierra Club reports ACTION The Chapter’s Water Committee actively opposes the Cadiz Inc. water-pumping plan. To become involved in this campaign, contact Charming Evelyn at bcharmz@aol.com. More than 30 years ago, a company called Cadiz...