Letter to the Coastal Commission
This letter references the Monterey Herald Letter in the section below.
February 13, 2023
Chair Brownsey, Commissioners and Staff,
It has been over two months now since Cal Am refused to sign the approved Water Purchase Agreement for the Pure Water Monterey Expansion. There has been no response from the CPUC on either Cal Am’s request for a rehearing or on the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District’s Petition for Modification of D.22-12-001 (attached) which would force Cal Am to sign.
The CPUC rarely ever grants a rehearing on something like this. But now publicly Cal Am can avoid responsibility and blame the CPUC for Cal Am’s refusal to sign the Water Purchase Agreement.
After three years of stalling, Cal Am’s claim that they are 100% in support of the Pure Water Monterey Expansion is not believable. Cal Am could sign the agreement and still ask for the money they have been denied. Their president, Kevin Tilden, has said privately they won’t sign the agreement because they would lose their leverage.
What Cal Am isn’t telling the public is that the CPUC has authorized Cal Am to collect $61 million for infrastructure costs for the PWM Expansion. Cal Am initially asked for $81 million. The CPUC said no to the additional $20 million because most of it was for desal infrastructure and not related to the Expansion. Insiders at the CPUC have called Cal Am’s actions extortion. Cal Am’s defiance of the CPUC decision presents a situation where a water monopoly can do harm and face no consequences.
The Peninsula faces a looming threat. Cal Am can block the water supply we need in favor of their desal project. If the CPUC does not allow Cal Am to collect the additional money, Cal Am has said they will not sign the agreement. That would mean the PWM Expansion cannot be built.
According to Monterey One, over the past two years Cal Am’s delay has driven the cost of the Expansion up by $17 million. But the worst is yet to come. Our public agencies have been awarded $42 million in grant money for the Expansion which could be lost by further delay. The Expansion is estimated at $70 million, so the grants that could be lost are over half the cost of the project. This raises the cost of our extraordinarily expensive water further.
Cal Am is also blocking the Water District’s ability to capture the heavy river flows we experienced last month. See my op ed below for how the Water Purchase Agreement also impacts the storage of Carmel River water.
Your conditional approval of Cal Am’s desal and the Governor’s support has emboldened a bad actor. It appears Cal Am plans to get by without the Expansion until it can build its desal plant.
A private company holding a community’s water supply hostage should not be allowed, but that is exactly what’s happening here.
Melodie Chrislock
Managing Director
PUBLIC WATER NOW
http://www.publicwaternow.org
[email protected]
831 624-2282
February 13, 2023
Chair Brownsey, Commissioners and Staff,
It has been over two months now since Cal Am refused to sign the approved Water Purchase Agreement for the Pure Water Monterey Expansion. There has been no response from the CPUC on either Cal Am’s request for a rehearing or on the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District’s Petition for Modification of D.22-12-001 (attached) which would force Cal Am to sign.
The CPUC rarely ever grants a rehearing on something like this. But now publicly Cal Am can avoid responsibility and blame the CPUC for Cal Am’s refusal to sign the Water Purchase Agreement.
After three years of stalling, Cal Am’s claim that they are 100% in support of the Pure Water Monterey Expansion is not believable. Cal Am could sign the agreement and still ask for the money they have been denied. Their president, Kevin Tilden, has said privately they won’t sign the agreement because they would lose their leverage.
What Cal Am isn’t telling the public is that the CPUC has authorized Cal Am to collect $61 million for infrastructure costs for the PWM Expansion. Cal Am initially asked for $81 million. The CPUC said no to the additional $20 million because most of it was for desal infrastructure and not related to the Expansion. Insiders at the CPUC have called Cal Am’s actions extortion. Cal Am’s defiance of the CPUC decision presents a situation where a water monopoly can do harm and face no consequences.
The Peninsula faces a looming threat. Cal Am can block the water supply we need in favor of their desal project. If the CPUC does not allow Cal Am to collect the additional money, Cal Am has said they will not sign the agreement. That would mean the PWM Expansion cannot be built.
According to Monterey One, over the past two years Cal Am’s delay has driven the cost of the Expansion up by $17 million. But the worst is yet to come. Our public agencies have been awarded $42 million in grant money for the Expansion which could be lost by further delay. The Expansion is estimated at $70 million, so the grants that could be lost are over half the cost of the project. This raises the cost of our extraordinarily expensive water further.
Cal Am is also blocking the Water District’s ability to capture the heavy river flows we experienced last month. See my op ed below for how the Water Purchase Agreement also impacts the storage of Carmel River water.
Your conditional approval of Cal Am’s desal and the Governor’s support has emboldened a bad actor. It appears Cal Am plans to get by without the Expansion until it can build its desal plant.
A private company holding a community’s water supply hostage should not be allowed, but that is exactly what’s happening here.
Melodie Chrislock
Managing Director
PUBLIC WATER NOW
http://www.publicwaternow.org
[email protected]
831 624-2282
Is Cal Am starving the Peninsula of water to justify desal?
MONTEREY HERALD | February 1, 2023
By MELODIE CHRISLOCK
Cal Am’s refusal to sign the CPUC-approved Water Purchase Agreement (WPA) for the Pure Water Monterey Expansion is unreasonable and irresponsible. Its demand for more infrastructure money has already been reviewed by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and determined invalid. It appears Cal Am is purposely asking for funds that cannot be authorized as part of this project to stall the Pure Water Monterey Expansion further and shift blame for the delay to the CPUC.
Cal Am’s refusal is not only blocking 2,250 acre-feet of urgently needed new water supply from the PWM Expansion. It’s also limiting Aquifer Storage and Recovery production.
The ASR project was designed by the Water Management District to capture the current excess winter flows from the Carmel River and store them in the Seaside Basin. With the river running at unusually high levels this year, ASR has been storing water since Dec. 31 and will continue as long as the river runs above a certain cubic feet per second threshold. But ASR could be storing more if not for Cal Am’s negligence.
There are four ASR injection wells. But Cal Am has been using two of them as extraction wells for Pure Water Monterey instead of building the needed extraction wells. Using the ASR wells for PWM extraction instead of ASR injection results in a lack of injection capacity which cuts ASR storage by close to half, wasting urgently needed water that is lost to the ocean.
The Pure Water Monterey Project has been operating for three years now with no dedicated extraction wells. The needed wells are part of the $61.6 million in infrastructure costs in the WPA that Cal Am refuses to sign.
The PWM Expansion is a public agency project, so Cal Am makes no profit on it or the water it produces. It will cost Monterey One Water about $65 million to build the Expansion.
Cal Am originally wanted $81 million for infrastructure (wells, pipes, and pumps) to deliver the water from the PWM Expansion. The CPUC Office of Ratepayer Advocates and other parties said that was excessive, and the CPUC cut it down to about $40 million. Cal Am complained loudly and got another $20 million authorized. But now Cal Am claims that’s not enough.
Cal Am has blocked and delayed the PWM Expansion for almost three years. Now it turns out that CPUC approval for the WPA was not even necessary. Cal Am has signed hundreds of water purchase agreements with no CPUC approval. Did Cal Am put this through a long and unnecessary process with no intention of signing as a delay tactic?
Cal Am is telling the public and our elected leaders it wants to see the Pure Water Monterey Expansion move forward quickly, but its actions prove the opposite. Without Cal Am’s signature, financing cannot be obtained, the Expansion cannot be built and ASR will remain limited.
In its press statements, Cal Am says they must be compensated to build the PWM Expansion infrastructure, or they can’t deliver the water. Yet, deceptively, they never mention the $61.6 million already approved in the WPA for PWM Expansion infrastructure.
Does Cal Am have any intention of signing the Water Purchase Agreement? It appears Cal Am intends to starve the Peninsula of water to make its case for desal. Governor Newsom’s political pressure on the Coastal Commission was the only reason Cal Am’s desal was conditionally approved. It still has to make its case to the CPUC and other agencies.
Cal Am has used the drought as its argument for desal. Now the rains have swollen the Carmel River. And because Cal Am never built the needed wells and continues to delay signing the WPA, MPWMD can’t capture all the water the ASR project was designed to store.
Cal Am is a master of deception and delay. Will Cal Am’s President, Kevin Tilden, ever sign the agreement to buy the water we so urgently need? Will the CPUC force Cal Am to sign? Meanwhile, Cal Am continues to hold our water hostage.
Melodie Chrislock is the director of Public Water Now.
By MELODIE CHRISLOCK
Cal Am’s refusal to sign the CPUC-approved Water Purchase Agreement (WPA) for the Pure Water Monterey Expansion is unreasonable and irresponsible. Its demand for more infrastructure money has already been reviewed by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and determined invalid. It appears Cal Am is purposely asking for funds that cannot be authorized as part of this project to stall the Pure Water Monterey Expansion further and shift blame for the delay to the CPUC.
Cal Am’s refusal is not only blocking 2,250 acre-feet of urgently needed new water supply from the PWM Expansion. It’s also limiting Aquifer Storage and Recovery production.
The ASR project was designed by the Water Management District to capture the current excess winter flows from the Carmel River and store them in the Seaside Basin. With the river running at unusually high levels this year, ASR has been storing water since Dec. 31 and will continue as long as the river runs above a certain cubic feet per second threshold. But ASR could be storing more if not for Cal Am’s negligence.
There are four ASR injection wells. But Cal Am has been using two of them as extraction wells for Pure Water Monterey instead of building the needed extraction wells. Using the ASR wells for PWM extraction instead of ASR injection results in a lack of injection capacity which cuts ASR storage by close to half, wasting urgently needed water that is lost to the ocean.
The Pure Water Monterey Project has been operating for three years now with no dedicated extraction wells. The needed wells are part of the $61.6 million in infrastructure costs in the WPA that Cal Am refuses to sign.
The PWM Expansion is a public agency project, so Cal Am makes no profit on it or the water it produces. It will cost Monterey One Water about $65 million to build the Expansion.
Cal Am originally wanted $81 million for infrastructure (wells, pipes, and pumps) to deliver the water from the PWM Expansion. The CPUC Office of Ratepayer Advocates and other parties said that was excessive, and the CPUC cut it down to about $40 million. Cal Am complained loudly and got another $20 million authorized. But now Cal Am claims that’s not enough.
Cal Am has blocked and delayed the PWM Expansion for almost three years. Now it turns out that CPUC approval for the WPA was not even necessary. Cal Am has signed hundreds of water purchase agreements with no CPUC approval. Did Cal Am put this through a long and unnecessary process with no intention of signing as a delay tactic?
Cal Am is telling the public and our elected leaders it wants to see the Pure Water Monterey Expansion move forward quickly, but its actions prove the opposite. Without Cal Am’s signature, financing cannot be obtained, the Expansion cannot be built and ASR will remain limited.
In its press statements, Cal Am says they must be compensated to build the PWM Expansion infrastructure, or they can’t deliver the water. Yet, deceptively, they never mention the $61.6 million already approved in the WPA for PWM Expansion infrastructure.
Does Cal Am have any intention of signing the Water Purchase Agreement? It appears Cal Am intends to starve the Peninsula of water to make its case for desal. Governor Newsom’s political pressure on the Coastal Commission was the only reason Cal Am’s desal was conditionally approved. It still has to make its case to the CPUC and other agencies.
Cal Am has used the drought as its argument for desal. Now the rains have swollen the Carmel River. And because Cal Am never built the needed wells and continues to delay signing the WPA, MPWMD can’t capture all the water the ASR project was designed to store.
Cal Am is a master of deception and delay. Will Cal Am’s President, Kevin Tilden, ever sign the agreement to buy the water we so urgently need? Will the CPUC force Cal Am to sign? Meanwhile, Cal Am continues to hold our water hostage.
Melodie Chrislock is the director of Public Water Now.
Another California desalination plant approved — the most contentious one yet
Link to CalMatters Article
November 18, 2022
November 18, 2022
It’s our city, our water, our beaches, our wildlife — so that Cal-Am can send the water to another wealthier community who don’t even want it.”
MARINA MAYOR BRUCE DELGADO
Thank you to all who attended the CCC Hearing on November 17, 2022
From Kathy Biala, co-founder of Just Water
All we can say is that at the Coastal Commission hearing yesterday that started at 9:00 a.m. and went to 10:00 p.m., we won their hearts but not their votes! Our community of Marina and all the speakers brought to light our special people, our special place in this world, but unfortunately, forces external to us resulted in an approval with conditions. The struggle now moves in a very different direction with our city and other public agencies taking the rein to “fight the good fight” on many legal and procedural fronts. We say with all truth, that we gave it our very best shot and could not have done anything better! We rallied and supported one another in amazing ways.
We have so much to be proud of in our wonderful Marina community! This test gave us the opportunity to all work together, to make public statements, loud and clear, about our strengths, our caring nature, and the unique place that we call home! We know what and who we are.
Thanks to our residents who attended the long meeting, who attended so many rallies in the past, who held up our Just Water signs, who took off work, who brought your children and families, the Marina High School students and CSUMB students who scrambled between classes to participate, and our ethnic community groups who braved their fears of public speaking, our environmental groups, our Preston Park/Abrams people, the Brownie group of beautiful young girls, and our public agency staff and elected officials, particularly our Mayor who advocated for us with such passion, and to the tireless Just Water volunteers who rallied the troops and kept us organized! We have won the day, despite CalAm now being able to further advance their project (with major hurdles!). We thank everyone who believes in Marina!
Write your letter to the Coastal Commission by November 10, 2022!
Submit written comments by Email
Now is the time to act!
Step I:
Choose a photo of you and your family and place it in the text of your email (not as attachment). This will help identify Marina residents from the hundreds of other emails the Coastal Commission will receive and will really show them who we are!
Step 2:
Prepare a written comment of unlimited length (Just Water can help you). Begin your comments with: “Dear CA Coastal Commissioners, Executive Director John Ainsworth and staff”.
Write: My name is ______________; I am a resident of ________________. Add something brief about yourself, your family, your ethnic/racial background, your living/working/social/economic situation.
Then add “Please deny the Cal-Am project that will harm Marina. Thank you”. Sign with your name and send. Just Water can assist you with other talking points or a draft script, if desired.
Step 3:
Email your comments before Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 5 PM.
To: [email protected]
From: Your name Subject: Deny CalAm Desalination Project
You will receive confirmation of receipt of your email directly from the CA Coastal Commission.
Citizens for Just Water thanks you for helping Marina!
Choose a photo of you and your family and place it in the text of your email (not as attachment). This will help identify Marina residents from the hundreds of other emails the Coastal Commission will receive and will really show them who we are!
Step 2:
Prepare a written comment of unlimited length (Just Water can help you). Begin your comments with: “Dear CA Coastal Commissioners, Executive Director John Ainsworth and staff”.
Write: My name is ______________; I am a resident of ________________. Add something brief about yourself, your family, your ethnic/racial background, your living/working/social/economic situation.
Then add “Please deny the Cal-Am project that will harm Marina. Thank you”. Sign with your name and send. Just Water can assist you with other talking points or a draft script, if desired.
Step 3:
Email your comments before Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 5 PM.
To: [email protected]
From: Your name Subject: Deny CalAm Desalination Project
You will receive confirmation of receipt of your email directly from the CA Coastal Commission.
Citizens for Just Water thanks you for helping Marina!
| 8.5x11_just_water_flyer_send_email_-_hearing_nov_17_2022_web.pdf |
2 Ways to Participate on November 17!
There are 2 locations:
Salinas (main venue) or Marina City Council Chambers (via Zoom)
CA Coastal Commission Hearing on
Thursday, November 17, 2022
on the Cal-Am Slant Well Desalination project proposed in Marina
Thursday, November 17, 2022
on the Cal-Am Slant Well Desalination project proposed in Marina
| INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REGISTER TO SPEAK |
Citizens for Just Water (Just Water) can assist any individual or group who wishes to participate in-person, by remote Zoom or by emailing public comment.
Please download the "INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REGISTER" file (above). The process can be a little confusing.
Step 1:
Notify Just Water that you wish to speak and register at www.coastal.ca.gov. If you wish to speak as an established group or as an individual speaking with others, Just Water will do the on-line registration to ensure these arrangements are done.
Step 2:
When registration is completed, the CA Coastal Commission (CCC) will send you a confirmation email. It will come from sender CACC “Speaker Meeting information to Coastal Commission”; the text will begin with “Thank you for your submittal”. Save this email, and scroll down to find the Zoom link to be used to enter the meeting.
Step 3:
Prepare a one minute script (Just Water can help). Be sure to say you are a resident of Marina and something about yourself and your family. * Just Water can help you with short sentences on the harms of the project to Marina.
Note: If you would like a special photo of your family or other subject matter, please submit this to Just Water so that the Coastal Commission IT staff will show this when you are speaking. Or ask us to submit a photo collage for you.
Step 4:
On the day of the hearing, go to the Salinas or Marina location. Public comments will likely come in late morning (groups) and in afternoon (individuals). We cannot predict when you will be called to speak. Parking may be a problem in Salinas. Special parking may be arranged by CCC but that is not known at this time. Just Water will update you via email.
When it’s your turn, simply approach the podium and read your one-minute script.
We thank you for helping Marina!
Citizens for Just Water (Just Water) can assist any individual or group who wishes to participate in-person, by remote Zoom or by emailing public comment.
- Contact us by email: [email protected]. If you want a phone call back, please request this in your email.
- Click on “Sign up for updates” to be added to our email list.
Please download the "INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REGISTER" file (above). The process can be a little confusing.
Step 1:
Notify Just Water that you wish to speak and register at www.coastal.ca.gov. If you wish to speak as an established group or as an individual speaking with others, Just Water will do the on-line registration to ensure these arrangements are done.
Step 2:
When registration is completed, the CA Coastal Commission (CCC) will send you a confirmation email. It will come from sender CACC “Speaker Meeting information to Coastal Commission”; the text will begin with “Thank you for your submittal”. Save this email, and scroll down to find the Zoom link to be used to enter the meeting.
Step 3:
Prepare a one minute script (Just Water can help). Be sure to say you are a resident of Marina and something about yourself and your family. * Just Water can help you with short sentences on the harms of the project to Marina.
Note: If you would like a special photo of your family or other subject matter, please submit this to Just Water so that the Coastal Commission IT staff will show this when you are speaking. Or ask us to submit a photo collage for you.
Step 4:
On the day of the hearing, go to the Salinas or Marina location. Public comments will likely come in late morning (groups) and in afternoon (individuals). We cannot predict when you will be called to speak. Parking may be a problem in Salinas. Special parking may be arranged by CCC but that is not known at this time. Just Water will update you via email.
When it’s your turn, simply approach the podium and read your one-minute script.
We thank you for helping Marina!
Citizens for Just Water (Just Water) can assist any individual or group who wishes to participate in-person, by remote Zoom or by emailing public comment.
- Contact us by email: [email protected]. If you want a phone call back, please request this in your email.
- Click on “Sign up for updates” to be added to our email list.
Participation by Zoom on Thursday, November 17, 2022
Step 1:
Notify Just Water that you wish to speak by Zoom and register at www.coastal.ca.gov. If you wish to speak as a bona fide group or as an individual speaking with others, Just Water will do the on-line registration to ensure these arrangements are done.
Step 2:
When registration is completed, the CA Coastal Commission (CCC) will send you a confirmation email. It will come from sender CACC “Speaker Meeting information to Coastal Commission”; the text will begin with “Thank you for your submittal”. Save this email, and scroll down to find the Zoom link to be used to enter the meeting.
Step 3:
Prepare a one minute script (Just Water can help). Be sure to say you are a resident of Marina and something about yourself and your family. * Just Water can help you with short sentences on the harms of the project to Marina.
Note: If you would like a special photo of your family or other subject matter e.g. with the Just Water Help sign, please submit these to Just Water and we will ensure that the Coastal Commission IT staff will show the picture when you are speaking. The audience will see both the picture AND your face as you are talking. Or ask us to submit a photo collage for you.
Step 4:
On the day of the hearing, log onto the Zoom link of the hearing provided in the CACC confirmation email. We cannot predict when you will be called to speak.
Step 5:
When asked, raise your Zoom hand. When it is your time to speak, you will be asked to unmute your microphone and to turn on your video. Read your script.
Important Note: If you cannot stay on the whole meeting, leave your phone # with Just Water so that we can text or call you when your name is called.
Thank you for helping Marina!
Notify Just Water that you wish to speak by Zoom and register at www.coastal.ca.gov. If you wish to speak as a bona fide group or as an individual speaking with others, Just Water will do the on-line registration to ensure these arrangements are done.
Step 2:
When registration is completed, the CA Coastal Commission (CCC) will send you a confirmation email. It will come from sender CACC “Speaker Meeting information to Coastal Commission”; the text will begin with “Thank you for your submittal”. Save this email, and scroll down to find the Zoom link to be used to enter the meeting.
Step 3:
Prepare a one minute script (Just Water can help). Be sure to say you are a resident of Marina and something about yourself and your family. * Just Water can help you with short sentences on the harms of the project to Marina.
Note: If you would like a special photo of your family or other subject matter e.g. with the Just Water Help sign, please submit these to Just Water and we will ensure that the Coastal Commission IT staff will show the picture when you are speaking. The audience will see both the picture AND your face as you are talking. Or ask us to submit a photo collage for you.
Step 4:
On the day of the hearing, log onto the Zoom link of the hearing provided in the CACC confirmation email. We cannot predict when you will be called to speak.
Step 5:
When asked, raise your Zoom hand. When it is your time to speak, you will be asked to unmute your microphone and to turn on your video. Read your script.
Important Note: If you cannot stay on the whole meeting, leave your phone # with Just Water so that we can text or call you when your name is called.
Thank you for helping Marina!
The Coastal Commission will meet on November 17 in Salinas at the courthouse
If not, there will be Zoom access to speak in Marina at City Hall.
STAY TUNED & KEEP INFORMED
Farmers Market Information Booth!
Starting this Sunday, September 18, we will be back at the Farmers' Market every week to spread the word. Visit the information booth between 10 AM and 2PM (Reservation Road near Grocery Outlet).
We could also use your help at the booth! Please send an email message if you are available for a shift on one or more Sundays, or, if you can help in other ways. Please read why we oppose CalAm's proposed desal project in Marina. There are some egregious issues that CalAm continues to create yet another spin on to sanitize this dirty project for the general public. Help get the word out about how this project has no place in our community. Join our email list to receive updates: https://www.citizensforjustwater.org/sign-up-for-updates.html Help STOP CalAm!
We could also use your help at the booth! Please send an email message if you are available for a shift on one or more Sundays, or, if you can help in other ways. Please read why we oppose CalAm's proposed desal project in Marina. There are some egregious issues that CalAm continues to create yet another spin on to sanitize this dirty project for the general public. Help get the word out about how this project has no place in our community. Join our email list to receive updates: https://www.citizensforjustwater.org/sign-up-for-updates.html Help STOP CalAm!
CalAm holds public forum at CSUMB August 9
This graphic avoids showing how the much of parcel will be dedicated to the slant wells and how little access the public will really have to the old CEMEX site. There will be a paved road along side the pedestrian path for a long stretch. All of these renderings deceitfully avoid pointing out all of the impacts this project will have on the open space concept.
CalAm freshened up its false narrative on the Slant Well Desalination Project — that relies on using Marina ground water as its source for operations — as it makes plans to re-submit its application to the California Coastal Commission possibly in November. CalAm avoids using the word desal and only refers to this project as the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project which is actually several projects including ASR ground water storage and recovery, and the newly permitted expansion of the recycled water project that is already providing water for the peninsula.
Those that attended the event held in the Otter Student Union Ballroom at CSUMB, found tightly organized tables that gave little room for asking any questions of the for-profit company as the advertised public forum. The format included hosted tables for billing questions, water saving freebies, information on low income water subsidies programs, and — special treat — a representation of the fine public beach access that carefully avoided showing the true scale and impact of the well heads, service buildings, fencing, roads and huge concrete platforms that will mar the natural beauty of the beach. Instead the color renderings emphasized what a lovely park CalAm would be providing the community. Let's point out that the general public can have the same fine public access WITHOUT CalAm's fenced and gated slantwell project slicing access to the beach.
We need to make clear that this desalination project is unnecessary given that the Peninsula water recycling and aquifer storage projects that are already providing water are proven more than adequate to meet peninsula needs.
The company continues to greenwash this Desal project regarding environmental injustice issues discovered in the Coastal Commission report. CalAm cannot be allowed to force this desalination project on communities when there are more cost effective and less harmful water projects already in place.
Please note that this project as shown in Rendering 3 is MILES OUTSIDE OF THE CAL AM SERVICE AREA!
Those that attended the event held in the Otter Student Union Ballroom at CSUMB, found tightly organized tables that gave little room for asking any questions of the for-profit company as the advertised public forum. The format included hosted tables for billing questions, water saving freebies, information on low income water subsidies programs, and — special treat — a representation of the fine public beach access that carefully avoided showing the true scale and impact of the well heads, service buildings, fencing, roads and huge concrete platforms that will mar the natural beauty of the beach. Instead the color renderings emphasized what a lovely park CalAm would be providing the community. Let's point out that the general public can have the same fine public access WITHOUT CalAm's fenced and gated slantwell project slicing access to the beach.
We need to make clear that this desalination project is unnecessary given that the Peninsula water recycling and aquifer storage projects that are already providing water are proven more than adequate to meet peninsula needs.
The company continues to greenwash this Desal project regarding environmental injustice issues discovered in the Coastal Commission report. CalAm cannot be allowed to force this desalination project on communities when there are more cost effective and less harmful water projects already in place.
Please note that this project as shown in Rendering 3 is MILES OUTSIDE OF THE CAL AM SERVICE AREA!
This is the true size and impact of CalAm's project on the open space planned for the CEMEX parcel. The overlay is CalAm's rendering from the EIR. The public will not have access to any areas where the slant wells operate.
CalAm’s project is Environmentally Unjust
CalAm has no groundwater rights and the experimental Slant Well extraction of groundwater will cause further harm to an aquifer in overdraft and our vernal ponds. Cal Am’s desal project relies on using Marina's groundwater to feed their experimental desalination project for the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project. Cal Am does not have water rights to this water. A Stanford groundwater study shows that this project will cause harm to the aquifer which is already identified as “critically over drafted”. The project will impact our beaches and federally recognized threatened wildlife but serve no water for Marina. Our community was not asked if we wanted this project. It is being forced on our less wealthy community to serve the peninsula hospitality and real estate interests.
JUST WATER opposes the illegal extraction of Marina's water and advocates for the fair and equitable use and development of sustainable groundwater resources without adverse consequences to the needs and rights of any party.
JUST WATER opposes the illegal extraction of Marina's water and advocates for the fair and equitable use and development of sustainable groundwater resources without adverse consequences to the needs and rights of any party.
CCC responds that the CalAm reapplication is “incomplete”
The CCC had 30 days to respond to CalAm's re-application of the Coastal Use Permit received November 6 and has found that the materials submitted fell short in many key areas. CalAm must comply with the CCC for its application to be accepted. Otherwise it won't be reviewed by the CCC. The complete letter can be viewed below.
| ccc_notice_of_incomplete_application_9-20-0603_-_dec._3_2020.pdf |
CalAM has refiled its application with the CCC
From Jim Johnson's 11/06/2020 article in the Monterey Herald:
“Cal Am’s release announcing the application re-filing said company officials “urged the commission to schedule a new hearing as soon as possible.” It noted that once Coastal Commission staff deems the re-filed desal project application complete, the agency has 180 days to process the permit request, hold a hearing and render a decision.
The company also still has an appeal of the Marina city denial of Cal Am’s desal well field permit bid pending with the commission.”
As of this week, the Coastal Commission has not scheduled the new hearing date.
“Cal Am’s release announcing the application re-filing said company officials “urged the commission to schedule a new hearing as soon as possible.” It noted that once Coastal Commission staff deems the re-filed desal project application complete, the agency has 180 days to process the permit request, hold a hearing and render a decision.
The company also still has an appeal of the Marina city denial of Cal Am’s desal well field permit bid pending with the commission.”
As of this week, the Coastal Commission has not scheduled the new hearing date.
CalAm receives letter from the State Water Board
The State Water Resources Control Board, whose Cease and Desist order requires Cal Am to reduce its take of water from the Carmel River. This letter from November 17, 2020 urges CalAm to work collaboratively with other stake holders for short term water solutions given the many obstacles to permit the Desalination Plant that will fail to meet the waterboard mandated benchmarks.
The letter, from Eileen Sobeck, Executive Director of the Water Board, ends with a summary statement of the current situation, and encourages Cal Am to figure out a way to secure a path to meet the final compliance deadline of December 31, 2021:
"Cal-Am has indicated it will continue to pursue development and construction of its proposed desalination project despite regulatory hurdles, legal challenges, and other uncertainties. Regardless of whether additional progress occurs, it is highly unlikely that any project will meet future milestones or be constructed and operational by the end of next year. But the 2016 Order only requires Cal-Am to remain in compliance with the Effective Diversion Limit and to terminate unauthorized diversions by the final compliance deadline of December 31, 2021. Accordingly, I strongly encourage Cal-Am to continue to engage collaboratively with other Applicants and interested parties to resolve disputes, to secure other near-term solutions for ending Cal-Am’s unauthorized Carmel River diversions by December 31, 2021, and to develop longer-term water supply solutions for meeting the Monterey Peninsula’s and the broader region’s economic, social, and environmental needs in the decades to come."
Read the entire letter below:
The letter, from Eileen Sobeck, Executive Director of the Water Board, ends with a summary statement of the current situation, and encourages Cal Am to figure out a way to secure a path to meet the final compliance deadline of December 31, 2021:
"Cal-Am has indicated it will continue to pursue development and construction of its proposed desalination project despite regulatory hurdles, legal challenges, and other uncertainties. Regardless of whether additional progress occurs, it is highly unlikely that any project will meet future milestones or be constructed and operational by the end of next year. But the 2016 Order only requires Cal-Am to remain in compliance with the Effective Diversion Limit and to terminate unauthorized diversions by the final compliance deadline of December 31, 2021. Accordingly, I strongly encourage Cal-Am to continue to engage collaboratively with other Applicants and interested parties to resolve disputes, to secure other near-term solutions for ending Cal-Am’s unauthorized Carmel River diversions by December 31, 2021, and to develop longer-term water supply solutions for meeting the Monterey Peninsula’s and the broader region’s economic, social, and environmental needs in the decades to come."
Read the entire letter below:
| calam_missed_milestone_letter_11-2-20_1__9_.pdf |
CalAm pulls permit application at the CCC Sept 16
Yep, it’s true. CalAm opted to defensively yank it’s permit application September 16—one day before the special September 17 Zoom hearing with the CCC that many were scheduled to make comment at. But it is not time to celebrate just yet.
CalAm issued this statement:
“Over the last several weeks we heard serious EJ concerns from residents of Marina, and cost concerns from our customers. We would like to have further discussions with the residents of Marina (or City of Marina) and also spend more time explaining our proposed enhancements to our low income program for Monterey customers before seeking a vote by the Commission. We are hoping to be back in front of the Commission in a few months. We still believe this is the right project in the right location, but want to build bridges to the extent possible.”
CalAm will resubmit its application in time. There are many things money can do behind the scenes in the interim such as; support pro-CalAm candidates in local November elections that will sit on agency boards such as we have seen with the Monterey Water One water board. They will continue to work for influence locally and at state levels to continue to push this self-serving project through.
It is offensive that after 3 years of multiple citizen protests CalAm just now acknowledges the Environmental Justice issues of their project. They will also spin the low income affordable housing argument for the peninsula and Castroville as if this was the entire reason for the desalination project in the first place. There should be no mistake that any subsidized water program that helps a few rate payers pay for the most expensive water in the nation will be funded by the rest of the ratepayers—not CalAm.
It is evident in this action (pulling the permit) that CalAm identified that the CCC staff report recommendations for denial are solid and that their project would end. They have bought time.
CalAm issued this statement:
“Over the last several weeks we heard serious EJ concerns from residents of Marina, and cost concerns from our customers. We would like to have further discussions with the residents of Marina (or City of Marina) and also spend more time explaining our proposed enhancements to our low income program for Monterey customers before seeking a vote by the Commission. We are hoping to be back in front of the Commission in a few months. We still believe this is the right project in the right location, but want to build bridges to the extent possible.”
CalAm will resubmit its application in time. There are many things money can do behind the scenes in the interim such as; support pro-CalAm candidates in local November elections that will sit on agency boards such as we have seen with the Monterey Water One water board. They will continue to work for influence locally and at state levels to continue to push this self-serving project through.
It is offensive that after 3 years of multiple citizen protests CalAm just now acknowledges the Environmental Justice issues of their project. They will also spin the low income affordable housing argument for the peninsula and Castroville as if this was the entire reason for the desalination project in the first place. There should be no mistake that any subsidized water program that helps a few rate payers pay for the most expensive water in the nation will be funded by the rest of the ratepayers—not CalAm.
It is evident in this action (pulling the permit) that CalAm identified that the CCC staff report recommendations for denial are solid and that their project would end. They have bought time.
Thank you to all that committed to speak September 17!
Cal-Am will resubmit it’s Coastal Development Permit application to the California Coastal Commission sometime in the future. Stay tuned...
Thank you to all that have written a letter!
The window to sending an email to the Coastal Commission closed.
Citizens for Just Water thanks you for this important contribution to to fighting CalAm injustice of harm to our water and our dunes! It is unfortunate that another future date will decide the final vote at the CA Coastal Commission. Our letters remain part of the public record regarding this project.
Citizens for Just Water thanks you for this important contribution to to fighting CalAm injustice of harm to our water and our dunes! It is unfortunate that another future date will decide the final vote at the CA Coastal Commission. Our letters remain part of the public record regarding this project.
Display your resistance to Environmental Injustice!
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You can make a statement of support for denial of the CalAm Permit Application by the California Coastal Commission.
It's really easy!
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Town Hall Meeting August 29 via Zoom
Pure Water Monterey will meet area demands through 2050 new expert analysis confirms
PRESS RELEASE
May 26, 2020
Contacts: Mayor Bruce Delgado [email protected] City Manager Layne Long [email protected]
(Marina, CA) A new expert report released by the City of Marina examines water demand/supply issues for CalAm’s Desalination Project and confirms that expansion of the Pure Water Monterey (PWM) Project would meet all future water demand for CalAm’s Monterey District through 2050. The report’s overall findings demonstrate that CalAm’s proposed Desal Project is vastly oversized and cannot be justified due to its prohibitive costs, which will impose substantial economic burdens on low-income communities.
CalAm’s permit proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission were based on outdated water demand information that ended in 2016. Now that three more full years (2017-2019) of recorded water demand data is available, an accurate analysis of Monterey Peninsula current water demand is possible. Data from the 2017-2019 period, as discussed in this new report, demonstrate that CalAm’s water demand assumptions were greatly inflated and incorrect.
The new report is authored by Dr. Lon House, of Energy & Water Consulting, and includes a peer review analysis of the 2019-2020 report entitled “Supply and Demand for Water on the Monterey Peninsula” prepared by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District). The District, designated by the California Legislature as the lead agency to analyze the water demand needs of the Monterey Peninsula, determined that true water demand is much lower than CalAm’s obsolete projections and found that the PWM Expansion, along with other existing sources, can meet all future water demand for the Monterey Peninsula until at least 2043.
Dr. House notes that there are important regulatory and water conservation factors at play that will inevitably dampen increases in water demand moving forward, including California’s new urban efficiency standards for water use and the Governor’s new Water Resiliency Policy. Dr. House confirms that the latest District water demand and supply calculations are accurate and reasonable, and that the PWM Expansion will provide adequate water supplies, without the Desal Project, until 2050.
Bruce Delgado, Mayor of Marina, said: “As state regulators consider future permitting decisions regarding CalAm’s proposed Desal Project, they must keep in mind this accurate supply/demand data and how it clearly shows PWM Expansion as the superior, viable, affordable, sustainable path to meeting our region’s future water supply needs.”
Dr. House is a nationally renowned expert on the cost impacts of water facilities. He observes that CalAm’s Monterey District customers already have among the highest water rates in the nation and concludes that they would be stuck paying for an oversized, unnecessary, and incredibly expensive new water production system if the Desal Project is built.
Since the Desal Project has massive annual fixed costs (estimated at over $30 million per year) whether it is operating or not, this water will have 3 times the cost of PWM Expansion water if run at full capacity (approximately $6000 vs. $2000 per acre foot). However, if (as anticipated) the Desal Project is operated far below its capacity due to the low demand for this expensive water, it would have 10 times the cost of PWM Expansion water (over $21,000 vs. $2,000 per acre foot for 1,500 acre feet a year).
CalAm’s low-income customers would be especially hard hit if the CalAm Desal Project moves forward, paying almost 6% of their incomes for water. The report notes, “The annual average water bill in the United States for a family of four using 50 gallons per person per day is about $35 per month. The average CalAm family (assumed to be 2.4 people) currently (2019) pays over $93 per month. When MPWSP becomes operational, average family bills are expected to jump to $134 per month.”
In contrast, the PWM Expansion can meet regional needs at a fraction of the cost. Dr. House’s report concludes “the expansion of the Pure Water Monterey project will meet area water demands through 2050 and at lower water rate impacts than the MPWSP. This is a similar conclusion to that reached by the MPWMD [District] Report but arrived at using different assumptions. The fact that both approaches produce comparable conclusions enhances the validity of the MPWMD Report.”
“This latest expert analysis demonstrates that the CalAm Desal Project would commit ratepayers, including some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, to paying extraordinary and unnecessary water expenses for the next 30 years -- this fact alone compels adoption of the PWM Expansion project, ” said Mayor Delgado.
May 26, 2020
Contacts: Mayor Bruce Delgado [email protected] City Manager Layne Long [email protected]
(Marina, CA) A new expert report released by the City of Marina examines water demand/supply issues for CalAm’s Desalination Project and confirms that expansion of the Pure Water Monterey (PWM) Project would meet all future water demand for CalAm’s Monterey District through 2050. The report’s overall findings demonstrate that CalAm’s proposed Desal Project is vastly oversized and cannot be justified due to its prohibitive costs, which will impose substantial economic burdens on low-income communities.
CalAm’s permit proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission were based on outdated water demand information that ended in 2016. Now that three more full years (2017-2019) of recorded water demand data is available, an accurate analysis of Monterey Peninsula current water demand is possible. Data from the 2017-2019 period, as discussed in this new report, demonstrate that CalAm’s water demand assumptions were greatly inflated and incorrect.
The new report is authored by Dr. Lon House, of Energy & Water Consulting, and includes a peer review analysis of the 2019-2020 report entitled “Supply and Demand for Water on the Monterey Peninsula” prepared by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District). The District, designated by the California Legislature as the lead agency to analyze the water demand needs of the Monterey Peninsula, determined that true water demand is much lower than CalAm’s obsolete projections and found that the PWM Expansion, along with other existing sources, can meet all future water demand for the Monterey Peninsula until at least 2043.
Dr. House notes that there are important regulatory and water conservation factors at play that will inevitably dampen increases in water demand moving forward, including California’s new urban efficiency standards for water use and the Governor’s new Water Resiliency Policy. Dr. House confirms that the latest District water demand and supply calculations are accurate and reasonable, and that the PWM Expansion will provide adequate water supplies, without the Desal Project, until 2050.
Bruce Delgado, Mayor of Marina, said: “As state regulators consider future permitting decisions regarding CalAm’s proposed Desal Project, they must keep in mind this accurate supply/demand data and how it clearly shows PWM Expansion as the superior, viable, affordable, sustainable path to meeting our region’s future water supply needs.”
Dr. House is a nationally renowned expert on the cost impacts of water facilities. He observes that CalAm’s Monterey District customers already have among the highest water rates in the nation and concludes that they would be stuck paying for an oversized, unnecessary, and incredibly expensive new water production system if the Desal Project is built.
Since the Desal Project has massive annual fixed costs (estimated at over $30 million per year) whether it is operating or not, this water will have 3 times the cost of PWM Expansion water if run at full capacity (approximately $6000 vs. $2000 per acre foot). However, if (as anticipated) the Desal Project is operated far below its capacity due to the low demand for this expensive water, it would have 10 times the cost of PWM Expansion water (over $21,000 vs. $2,000 per acre foot for 1,500 acre feet a year).
CalAm’s low-income customers would be especially hard hit if the CalAm Desal Project moves forward, paying almost 6% of their incomes for water. The report notes, “The annual average water bill in the United States for a family of four using 50 gallons per person per day is about $35 per month. The average CalAm family (assumed to be 2.4 people) currently (2019) pays over $93 per month. When MPWSP becomes operational, average family bills are expected to jump to $134 per month.”
In contrast, the PWM Expansion can meet regional needs at a fraction of the cost. Dr. House’s report concludes “the expansion of the Pure Water Monterey project will meet area water demands through 2050 and at lower water rate impacts than the MPWSP. This is a similar conclusion to that reached by the MPWMD [District] Report but arrived at using different assumptions. The fact that both approaches produce comparable conclusions enhances the validity of the MPWMD Report.”
“This latest expert analysis demonstrates that the CalAm Desal Project would commit ratepayers, including some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, to paying extraordinary and unnecessary water expenses for the next 30 years -- this fact alone compels adoption of the PWM Expansion project, ” said Mayor Delgado.
Marina Files Lawsuit to Prevent Illegal Extraction and Exportation of Groundwater for CalAm Desalination Project
City of Marina Press Release
(May 11, 2020 -- Marina, CA) The City of Marina filed a lawsuit today in Monterey County Superior Court against RMC Pacific Materials, LLC (CEMEX) and California-American Water Company (CalAm) to enforce a binding agreement restricting the extraction of groundwater at the CEMEX Property to no more than 500 acre-feet per year and prohibiting export of the water out of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin. CalAm’s planned desalination project at the CEMEX site would violate both the extraction limitation and the groundwater export prohibition, pumping more than 17,000 acre-feet of groundwater every year, almost all of which would be delivered to its Monterey District customers located outside the Basin.
The City also seeks a court declaration that CalAm’s proposed exportation of water violates the 1990 “Agency Act” enacted by the California Legislature.
Protection of the groundwater resources in the Basin was a critical need in 1996 when the City and other parties entered into this legally binding Annexation Agreement restricting groundwater pumping from the CEMEX Property. The critical need to protect this Basin remains to this day, particularly since the subbasin where the extractions would occur has been designated by the Department of Water Resources as one of only 21 California basins/subbasins that are “critically overdrafted.”
The CEMEX entity that owned this site in 1996 agreed on behalf of itself and its successors to limit all groundwater extractions at this property to 500 acre-feet per year. CEMEX is bound by the contract and lacks authority to convey groundwater extraction rights greater than it possesses to CalAm. On May 23, 2018, CEMEX purported to grant a permanent easement to CalAm over 39 acres of the CEMEX Property to install slant wells and other facilities for CalAm’s desalination project.
These slant wells would extract groundwater at the rate of approximately 15.5 million gallons every day, which equates to a total of over 17,300 afy of water. These massive extractions, which are barred by the Agreement, threaten to cause irreparable harm to Marina’s clean, affordable, and reliable groundwater resources, which provide 100% of the City’s drinking water.
“Cal Am thinks it is above the law, but it is not. CalAm is not entitled to receive state and federal agency permits for a project that violates local agreements and state laws,” said Bruce Delgado, Mayor of the City of Marina.
CalAm’s proposed pumping could dangerously deplete this valuable water supply and eliminate the groundwater barrier protecting against further contamination of the Basin. These contractual and statutory violations by CEMEX and CalAm threaten irreparable harm to the Basin and could defeat decades of efforts by Marina and other agencies to carefully conserve, protect and manage the groundwater resources underneath and near the City.
“The issues addressed in this lawsuit are additional warning alarms to everyone that CalAm’s project is infeasible and environmentally harmful, ” said Bruce Delgado, Mayor of the City of Marina. “The desal project cannot be justified on economic or environmental merits. It is distracting our region from direct and speedy pursuit of the vastly superior Pure Water Monterey expansion alternative, which would provide adequate water supplies to CalAm’s customers through 2050.”
Please contact Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado at [email protected] or Marina City Manager Layne Long at [email protected] if you have any questions regarding this lawsuit.
(May 11, 2020 -- Marina, CA) The City of Marina filed a lawsuit today in Monterey County Superior Court against RMC Pacific Materials, LLC (CEMEX) and California-American Water Company (CalAm) to enforce a binding agreement restricting the extraction of groundwater at the CEMEX Property to no more than 500 acre-feet per year and prohibiting export of the water out of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin. CalAm’s planned desalination project at the CEMEX site would violate both the extraction limitation and the groundwater export prohibition, pumping more than 17,000 acre-feet of groundwater every year, almost all of which would be delivered to its Monterey District customers located outside the Basin.
The City also seeks a court declaration that CalAm’s proposed exportation of water violates the 1990 “Agency Act” enacted by the California Legislature.
Protection of the groundwater resources in the Basin was a critical need in 1996 when the City and other parties entered into this legally binding Annexation Agreement restricting groundwater pumping from the CEMEX Property. The critical need to protect this Basin remains to this day, particularly since the subbasin where the extractions would occur has been designated by the Department of Water Resources as one of only 21 California basins/subbasins that are “critically overdrafted.”
The CEMEX entity that owned this site in 1996 agreed on behalf of itself and its successors to limit all groundwater extractions at this property to 500 acre-feet per year. CEMEX is bound by the contract and lacks authority to convey groundwater extraction rights greater than it possesses to CalAm. On May 23, 2018, CEMEX purported to grant a permanent easement to CalAm over 39 acres of the CEMEX Property to install slant wells and other facilities for CalAm’s desalination project.
These slant wells would extract groundwater at the rate of approximately 15.5 million gallons every day, which equates to a total of over 17,300 afy of water. These massive extractions, which are barred by the Agreement, threaten to cause irreparable harm to Marina’s clean, affordable, and reliable groundwater resources, which provide 100% of the City’s drinking water.
“Cal Am thinks it is above the law, but it is not. CalAm is not entitled to receive state and federal agency permits for a project that violates local agreements and state laws,” said Bruce Delgado, Mayor of the City of Marina.
CalAm’s proposed pumping could dangerously deplete this valuable water supply and eliminate the groundwater barrier protecting against further contamination of the Basin. These contractual and statutory violations by CEMEX and CalAm threaten irreparable harm to the Basin and could defeat decades of efforts by Marina and other agencies to carefully conserve, protect and manage the groundwater resources underneath and near the City.
“The issues addressed in this lawsuit are additional warning alarms to everyone that CalAm’s project is infeasible and environmentally harmful, ” said Bruce Delgado, Mayor of the City of Marina. “The desal project cannot be justified on economic or environmental merits. It is distracting our region from direct and speedy pursuit of the vastly superior Pure Water Monterey expansion alternative, which would provide adequate water supplies to CalAm’s customers through 2050.”
Please contact Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado at [email protected] or Marina City Manager Layne Long at [email protected] if you have any questions regarding this lawsuit.
Read here the City’s Filed Complaint
This is the formal lawsuit filed with the County of Monterey Superior Court by the City of Marina.
| 2020-05-11_marina_v_rmc_complaint-8690892v1_05.11.20.pdf |
Just Water making the rounds to get the word out
Citizens for Just Water made public comment to the Coastal Commission in Scotts Valley last week
Citizens are not asleep during the long wait until the CCC revisits the CalAm application for the harmful slant wells on Marina's beaches. Our story of environmental injustice must be told to the state agencies to counter the unfair behind the scenes contacts and duplicitous tactics of CalAm.
Even now, CalAm and supporters work desperately to poison the expansion of the Pure Water Monterey project with misrepresentations and outright fabrication of the project. This recycled water project will provide the secure water that the peninsula needs for decades, can be built faster than the desalination plant and cost less to build and operate. CalAm refuses to support this project with water purchase agreements to get it built while their preferred slant well desalination plans stall. This strategy is designed to hold the peninsula hostage to prevent any other water solutions besides the enormously expensive and unnecessary slant well desalination plant.
Our message of Environmental Justice is relative to a project that will:
We support the immediate expansion of the Pure Water Monterey Recycled water project because it is the best long-term solution for the ENTIRE region and will not cause any of the violations listed above.
Even now, CalAm and supporters work desperately to poison the expansion of the Pure Water Monterey project with misrepresentations and outright fabrication of the project. This recycled water project will provide the secure water that the peninsula needs for decades, can be built faster than the desalination plant and cost less to build and operate. CalAm refuses to support this project with water purchase agreements to get it built while their preferred slant well desalination plans stall. This strategy is designed to hold the peninsula hostage to prevent any other water solutions besides the enormously expensive and unnecessary slant well desalination plant.
Our message of Environmental Justice is relative to a project that will:
- pump our ground water without groundwater rights
- takes advantage of a diverse low-income community
- destroy beach habitats and restrict public access on a parcel that has been earmarked for conservation - not industrial use
- uses poor science that disregards an aquifer in overdraft with saltwater intrusion issues
- provide no water for Marina but CalAm will profit by use of our precious resource
We support the immediate expansion of the Pure Water Monterey Recycled water project because it is the best long-term solution for the ENTIRE region and will not cause any of the violations listed above.
Coastal Commission recommends that CalAm withdraw its application
The California Coastal Commission staff is recommending to Cal-Am that it withdraw its Coastal Development Permit Application 9-19-0918 for a proposed desalination facility in Marina.
| ccc_recommends_cal_am_withdraw_coastal_developoment_permit_for_desal_plant.pdf |
The Coastal Commission letter describes issues requiring further study or needing to be resolved, and concludes "...we recommend that Cal-Am withdraw its application and re-submit at a later time once the various issues are more fully resolved."
CalAm has not responded to the letter, as of January 30 2020, but many will be watching as this response develops.
CalAm has not responded to the letter, as of January 30 2020, but many will be watching as this response develops.
Thank you to all…
YOU helped put a face on Marina for the Coastal Commission at the November 14, 2019 hearing. We far outnumbered the CalAm supporters in written comment and speakers the day of the hearing. The CCC listened respectfully and asked for more information from their staff. The staff has recommended denying the Slant Well Desalination project because of fatal flaws in the project.
So what happens next?
A short recap of where we are in 2020:
Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley
6001 La Madrone Drive
off of Mount Herman exit from HWY 17
Please hold a spot on your calendar if you can make the charge in March! More information will be posted as the meeting timeline develops.
So what happens next?
A short recap of where we are in 2020:
- The Coastal Commission did not make a final vote on November 14
- CalAm's project Application for Permitting is still pending with the Coastal Commission
- CC Staff will be updating the staff report in the next few weeks
- The Coastal Commissioners can vote to support CalAm no matter what the CCC staff recommends
- The Coastal Commission's next meeting is in March at the Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley but it could be March 11, 12 or 13 for project review and possible final vote
- CalAm and it's supporters are working on many fronts to influence the vote away from the staff recommendation to deny this harmful project
- We will need Marina residents to counter moneyed interests at the March meeting!
Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley
6001 La Madrone Drive
off of Mount Herman exit from HWY 17
Please hold a spot on your calendar if you can make the charge in March! More information will be posted as the meeting timeline develops.
CCC Staff report says “Deny this Project”
Although gratifying that the first Staff report has carefully considered the many damaging issues of the CalAm desalination project and favors the expansion of the recycled water project with Monterey Water One - it is not a done deal. The commissioners have asked for an updated Staff Report before the March hearing to answer questions and issues brought up at the November 13 De Novo hearing.
View 2019 Coastal Commission Staff report
Please remember that the Commissioners can vote against their own staff's recommendation. Both the State Water Board and the California Public Utilities Commission made communication with the CCC IMMEDIATELY after the release of this first report - these are not the actions of impartial state agencies just doing their job. The Coastal Commission is of equal status and should review the project using its own criteria and not be swayed by political influence. Let's make sure to remind them of their mandate to protect the coast for all.
View 2019 Coastal Commission Staff report
Please remember that the Commissioners can vote against their own staff's recommendation. Both the State Water Board and the California Public Utilities Commission made communication with the CCC IMMEDIATELY after the release of this first report - these are not the actions of impartial state agencies just doing their job. The Coastal Commission is of equal status and should review the project using its own criteria and not be swayed by political influence. Let's make sure to remind them of their mandate to protect the coast for all.
It takes a village to get the word out!
Coastal Commission reviewing CalAm’s appeal against the City of Marina
OUR POSITION
Citizens for Just Water supports the City of Marina and Marina Coast Water District at the De Novo CA Coastal Commission hearing to consider an alternative to the CalAm Slant Well Desalination, i.e. the Pure Water Monterey Expansion Project proposed by Monterey One Water. We support this alternative as an affordable recycled water project that avoids all the risks and harms associated with the currently proposed CalAm Slant Well Desalination project to be located in Marina.
We also support a fair review of the Stanford AEM Groundwater Science that shows harm to our groundwater resources. This proposed Desalination plant – that uses groundwater – cannot be allowed to pump from an over drafted aquifer that is already experiencing saltwater intrusion.
Citizens for Just Water supports the City of Marina and Marina Coast Water District at the De Novo CA Coastal Commission hearing to consider an alternative to the CalAm Slant Well Desalination, i.e. the Pure Water Monterey Expansion Project proposed by Monterey One Water. We support this alternative as an affordable recycled water project that avoids all the risks and harms associated with the currently proposed CalAm Slant Well Desalination project to be located in Marina.
We also support a fair review of the Stanford AEM Groundwater Science that shows harm to our groundwater resources. This proposed Desalination plant – that uses groundwater – cannot be allowed to pump from an over drafted aquifer that is already experiencing saltwater intrusion.
Why We support the Pure Water Monterey Recycled Water Project
The Pure Water Monterey Expansion Project has been shown to be a feasible and affordable alternative at one third the cost of desalinated water that can meet current and future water needs of the Monterey Peninsula for years to come but has never been considered by the CPUC in its approval of the CalAm Slant Well Desalination Project. We need this project to be promoted and built to secure clean water for the region. This project has none of the Environmental Justice issues of loss of sensitive habitat, a corporate take over of our ground water, loss of beach access, disruptions of our community and yet another industrial project on a parcel that has been marked for open space in to perpetuity
More about recycled water
The current Pure Water Monterey Project is on track for providing 3,500 acre feet of water in the next month. Expanding this project would provide the water needed by the peninsula without building CalAm's Slant Well project. It is likely that desalination will be part of the future regional water portfolio, but CalAm's project is NOT A REGIONAL SOLUTION because the identified groundwater harm to another community just kicks water poverty right up the coast.
Monterey County Board of Supervisors denies appeals 3-2 with NO REVIEW of Stanford Study
Video clip from the Board of Supervisors Meeting in Salinas. Compare the statements of the Peninsula Supervisors to the three Salinas Valley Supervisors who decided that they would not pursue the science, water rights or ANY further review to protect the Salinas Groundwater Basin.
Marina Coast statement of appeal at 44 minutes
1:32 to 3:42 at Public Comments
3:52 - Discussion before the vote was taken
View clip here
Marina Coast statement of appeal at 44 minutes
1:32 to 3:42 at Public Comments
3:52 - Discussion before the vote was taken
View clip here
California Coastal Commission votes to over ride city’s permit process
Below is the public comment given to the California Coastal Commission on July 11, 2019 regarding CalAm's Appeal to bypass the Marina City Council to gain a permit for its harmful Slant Wells on Marina's coastline. The Coastal Commission has decided in favor of CalAm for hearing the permit application appeal over the protests of the city of Marina and the Marina Coast Water District.
“On behalf of 33,000 Marina and Ord community citizens, and the almost 23,500 Monterey Peninsula citizens who voted Yes on Measure J to ultimately buy-out CalAm, we can only say that the Marina Planning Commission conducted a fair and objective hearing and the City of Marina followed all the legal processes of our LCP.
We ask that you not simply follow the path of least resistance, but rather use the yardstick of our democratic principles to guide your decision. Ask yourselves which legal arguments seem to be more in keeping with democracy?
The proper appeals for decisions of the Marina Planning Commission an appointed body has always been an appeal to the City Council as the higher authority of an elected body. Our LCP also echoes this fair safeguard.
To support a COMPLETE bypass directly to the Coastal Commission that will deprive our local elected officials a chance to weigh-in on a multi-million dollar project is completely and truly un-democratic. No matter what rule or code or policy might be cited to partially support some aspect of a bypass, the basic premise that a MAJOR industrial facility could be built on our shoreline WITHOUT a hearing before the local elected body, defies ALL fairness and logic. A City Council hearing could have revealed to citizens the thoughts and opinions of those we elected. In public hearing, we could have grappled with the issues of Councilmember bias. We could have recommended NEW or omitted information be reviewed in a supplemental EIR. This IS what democracy affords us.
It does not seem right that this Commission has the ability to change the procedures of a local jurisdiction’s LCP to accommodate a controversial project. This creates 2 issues: One, a distrust of the commission by a manipulation that will deprive local jurisdictions of their self-determination regarding their shorelines and 2) distrust of your enforcement of the laws governing the Commission.
Please carefully consider our City’s arguments that show legal support for the preservation of democratic processes as your ultimate yardstick.
Thank you very much.”
“On behalf of 33,000 Marina and Ord community citizens, and the almost 23,500 Monterey Peninsula citizens who voted Yes on Measure J to ultimately buy-out CalAm, we can only say that the Marina Planning Commission conducted a fair and objective hearing and the City of Marina followed all the legal processes of our LCP.
We ask that you not simply follow the path of least resistance, but rather use the yardstick of our democratic principles to guide your decision. Ask yourselves which legal arguments seem to be more in keeping with democracy?
The proper appeals for decisions of the Marina Planning Commission an appointed body has always been an appeal to the City Council as the higher authority of an elected body. Our LCP also echoes this fair safeguard.
To support a COMPLETE bypass directly to the Coastal Commission that will deprive our local elected officials a chance to weigh-in on a multi-million dollar project is completely and truly un-democratic. No matter what rule or code or policy might be cited to partially support some aspect of a bypass, the basic premise that a MAJOR industrial facility could be built on our shoreline WITHOUT a hearing before the local elected body, defies ALL fairness and logic. A City Council hearing could have revealed to citizens the thoughts and opinions of those we elected. In public hearing, we could have grappled with the issues of Councilmember bias. We could have recommended NEW or omitted information be reviewed in a supplemental EIR. This IS what democracy affords us.
It does not seem right that this Commission has the ability to change the procedures of a local jurisdiction’s LCP to accommodate a controversial project. This creates 2 issues: One, a distrust of the commission by a manipulation that will deprive local jurisdictions of their self-determination regarding their shorelines and 2) distrust of your enforcement of the laws governing the Commission.
Please carefully consider our City’s arguments that show legal support for the preservation of democratic processes as your ultimate yardstick.
Thank you very much.”
Update from the Monterey County Weekly on the Marina City Council Meeting May 6
No Show
Cal Am’s desal permit remains in limbo as Marina weighs what to tell Coastal Commission
By Asaf Shalev • May 9-15 2019, pg 18
It was the best attended city council meeting that didn’t happen. Marina City Council had scheduled a special meeting on May 6 for a public hearing on California American Water’s bid for a coastal development permit to build intake wells and related infrastructure for its planned desalination plant on a beach in Marina.
Dozens of residents arrived, including members of Citizens for Just Water, a group critical of Cal Am’s plan to construct a desalination plant. Outside City Hall, demonstrators held signs saying “Science Matters!”, “Illegal Water Grab” and “Yes! Recycled Water.”
But when everyone filed into City Hall, no councilmembers were in sight. Only Assistant City Attorney Deborah Mall appeared. She said Cal Am had withdrawn its appeal at the last minute on April 29 and the council could not proceed with a hearing.
Cal Am is accusing three councilmembers of bias against the company’s proposed desal plant. Among elected officials and residents in Marina, there’s broad support for a separate project that would provide recycled water. The desal plant, critics say, would produce more water than the region needs at a higher cost to ratepayers, while harming Marina’s water basin.
Cal Am had already anticipated a rejection at Marina City Council and planned to then appeal to the California Coastal Commission. Now, the company is waiting for the city to issue a final local action notice affirming an earlier Planning Commission denial, allowing an appeal to proceed. Mall says City Council will discuss that notice in closed session on May 7.
In its most recent quarterly report, Cal Am’s parent company notes delays and acknowledges, “There can be no assurance that the Water Supply Project will be completed on a timely basis, if ever.”
Cal Am’s desal permit remains in limbo as Marina weighs what to tell Coastal Commission
By Asaf Shalev • May 9-15 2019, pg 18
It was the best attended city council meeting that didn’t happen. Marina City Council had scheduled a special meeting on May 6 for a public hearing on California American Water’s bid for a coastal development permit to build intake wells and related infrastructure for its planned desalination plant on a beach in Marina.
Dozens of residents arrived, including members of Citizens for Just Water, a group critical of Cal Am’s plan to construct a desalination plant. Outside City Hall, demonstrators held signs saying “Science Matters!”, “Illegal Water Grab” and “Yes! Recycled Water.”
But when everyone filed into City Hall, no councilmembers were in sight. Only Assistant City Attorney Deborah Mall appeared. She said Cal Am had withdrawn its appeal at the last minute on April 29 and the council could not proceed with a hearing.
Cal Am is accusing three councilmembers of bias against the company’s proposed desal plant. Among elected officials and residents in Marina, there’s broad support for a separate project that would provide recycled water. The desal plant, critics say, would produce more water than the region needs at a higher cost to ratepayers, while harming Marina’s water basin.
Cal Am had already anticipated a rejection at Marina City Council and planned to then appeal to the California Coastal Commission. Now, the company is waiting for the city to issue a final local action notice affirming an earlier Planning Commission denial, allowing an appeal to proceed. Mall says City Council will discuss that notice in closed session on May 7.
In its most recent quarterly report, Cal Am’s parent company notes delays and acknowledges, “There can be no assurance that the Water Supply Project will be completed on a timely basis, if ever.”
In case you missed the Salinas Coastal Commission Meeting...
Video clip of the recent Coastal Commission event in Salinas on April 10. We had to return in the afternoon as the public comment period was closed in the morning due to the many people that came to speak on various issues. So many small coastal towns are experiencing too much love in the form of tourism, industry, infrastructure decay and poor planning. These meetings are always incredibly informative about the many impacts to the California coast and the scope of oversight that the Coastal Commission must administer to.
Will CalAm Steal our Water?
Cal Am's Lawyer Anthony Lombardo accidentally agrees at the February 14 project review and request for permit at the February 14, 2018 Marina Planning Commission meeting. A special Valentine to the City of Marina from CalAm.
Cal Am's Lawyer Anthony Lombardo accidentally agrees at the February 14 project review and request for permit at the February 14, 2018 Marina Planning Commission meeting. A special Valentine to the City of Marina from CalAm.
Can CalAm Steal Marina’s Groundwater?
The CalAm Desalination Project: Public Forum
If you were not able to join the Forum on January 30 with speakers Marc Del Piero, attorney at Law and expert on groundwater rights, and Keith Van Der Maaten, General Manager of the Marina Coast Water District, here is a link of the meeting below. The meeting video has two parts:
Can Cal Am STEAL Marina’s Groundwater? Part 1 (37 minutes)
Marc Del Piero, Water Rights Attorney
Can Cal Am STEAL Marina’s Groundwater? Part 2 (15 minutes)
Keith Van Der Maaten, General Manager, Marina Coast Water District
If you were not able to join the Forum on January 30 with speakers Marc Del Piero, attorney at Law and expert on groundwater rights, and Keith Van Der Maaten, General Manager of the Marina Coast Water District, here is a link of the meeting below. The meeting video has two parts:
Can Cal Am STEAL Marina’s Groundwater? Part 1 (37 minutes)
Marc Del Piero, Water Rights Attorney
Can Cal Am STEAL Marina’s Groundwater? Part 2 (15 minutes)
Keith Van Der Maaten, General Manager, Marina Coast Water District
December 6 - Citizens for Just Water needs speakers!
We had a good turnout of Monterey, Seaside, Carmel Valley, Pebble Beach. Pacific Grove and Marina residents for our recent public water forum. We hosted several informative speakers, including folks from Monterey One Water to talk about the recycled water project and aquifer replenishment in cooperation from our own Marina Coast Water District. We understand what the CPUC failed to consider - that the best strategy moving forward to provide a cost effective REGIONAL water supply - must happen in coordination with the public agencies that we can trust. Approving CalAm's project to develop our ground water is an exploitive, harmful, expensive, and unacceptable regional water solution that will cause long term damage to our over-drafted aquifer. As citizens, we need to speak out before this project receives its final permitting and building begins in our community.
On Thursday, December 6, a group will be attending the San Luis Obispo Regional Water Board meeting. If you are available to come speak during the public comment period, please contact [email protected]. We will be organizing a carpool that will leave around 9am. The public comment period is at 1:30 in San Luis Obispo.
On Thursday, December 6, a group will be attending the San Luis Obispo Regional Water Board meeting. If you are available to come speak during the public comment period, please contact [email protected]. We will be organizing a carpool that will leave around 9am. The public comment period is at 1:30 in San Luis Obispo.
Recent Public Comments at the Coastal Commission in San Francisco
On November 7th, several citizens went up to the Coastal Commission regional meeting to make public comment on the draft Environmental Justice Policy that the CCC is now close adopting. This policy is important because it will address some of the issues that have made the recent CPUC approval of the CalAm Slant wells so very egregious. A copy of the EJ policy can be found on the Coastal Commission website here.
Environmental Justice Policy - Public Review Draft
Environmental Justice Policy - Public Review Draft
Community Water Meeting for East Garrison and Ord Community Residents
Get the updates on water annexation
A heartfelt thank you to those who participated in our Town Hall Water meeting in East Garrison on September 18th. And special thanks to our speakers: Tom Moore, President, Board of Directors of MCWD, Matt Zefferman, Scientist/University Educator, Michael Baer, Public Water Now, and Kathy Biala of Citizens for Just Water.
This meeting focused on updating East Garrison and Ord Community residents on progress with Marina Coast Water District's Annexation process, explained how FORA relates to MCWD, and synthesized many related current local water events. We are getting closer with the Annexation - big progress has been made on one front, with a resolution just reached between MCWD and Landwatch Monterey and Keep Ft. Ord Wild over the lawsuits previously filed by Landwatch and KFOWild. We look forward to cooperative efforts with these two groups on water issues going forward.
This meeting focused on updating East Garrison and Ord Community residents on progress with Marina Coast Water District's Annexation process, explained how FORA relates to MCWD, and synthesized many related current local water events. We are getting closer with the Annexation - big progress has been made on one front, with a resolution just reached between MCWD and Landwatch Monterey and Keep Ft. Ord Wild over the lawsuits previously filed by Landwatch and KFOWild. We look forward to cooperative efforts with these two groups on water issues going forward.
Public Comment to support MCWD Annexation
LAFCO of Monterey County (Local Agency Formation Commission) has cancelled its monthly meeting, previously scheduled for Monday, September 24th, 4:00 pm.
We are asking people to show up for Public Comment at the next LAFCO meeting to voice support for Marina Coast Water District's Annexation Project.
The next LAFCO meeting is now scheduled for:
October 22nd, 4:00 pm, 168 West Alisal, Salinas, CA.
Please email us if you are available that afternoon and interested in speaking out.
We are asking people to show up for Public Comment at the next LAFCO meeting to voice support for Marina Coast Water District's Annexation Project.
The next LAFCO meeting is now scheduled for:
October 22nd, 4:00 pm, 168 West Alisal, Salinas, CA.
Please email us if you are available that afternoon and interested in speaking out.
New Blog!
Keith Van Der Maaten discusses the findings from the recent AEM surveys at our last public forum. See clip below.