The Landscape
This company is trying to drain an aquifer in the Mojave Desert
Dec 23, 2024
In this insightful discussion, Chris Clarke, host of the 90 Miles from Needles podcast and a dedicated environmental journalist, dives into the controversial Cadiz pipeline project. He reveals how this water mining initiative threatens the Mojave Desert’s delicate ecosystem and scrutinizes the complex history of the project since the 1980s. Clarke also discusses the ecological and cultural stakes of aquifer depletion, stressing the urgent need for conservation efforts and the impact on indigenous communities.
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Quick takeaways
- The Cadiz Pipeline Project faces significant opposition due to exaggerated water claims and legislative requirements for thorough environmental reviews.
- The project's potential impact on groundwater depletion threatens local wildlife and undermines the cultural identity of Indigenous communities in the Mojave Desert.
Deep dives
The Cadiz Pipeline Project: History and Controversy
The Cadiz Pipeline Project aims to extract groundwater from the Mojave Desert to supply Southern California water agencies. Initially proposed in the late 1980s, the project faced significant opposition due to environmental concerns regarding the aquifer's limited recharge capabilities. Early estimates from the U.S. Geological Survey highlighted that Cadiz's claims were exaggerated, causing the Metropolitan Water District to withdraw from the project, leading to a collapse of Cadiz's market value. Since then, the project has evolved, with proponents attempting to navigate regulatory hurdles while avoiding thorough environmental assessments.
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