Colorado River Update: Can We Save California?

Hello Friends of the Colorado River!

Two updates this week:  First, can we save California? The devastating California drought has generated myriad responses, and into that ring Save The Colorado throws its recommendations. This week, we published a blog titled, "Four Ways To Beat The California Drought and Save The Colorado River." Here are our four recommendations: 1) Jerry Brown's drought restrictions should become permanent. 2) Southern California should become a worldwide leader in stormwater and wastewater management. 3) Enormous efficiencies can be made in Southern Calfornia's agricultural sector. And 4), use some of Southern Calfornia's water to restore the Colorado River Delta.

As you may know, all of Southern California -- farms and cities -- gets water from the Colorado River, and the drought that is impacting California is occurring across the Southwest U.S. The drought in California may feel like it’s causing extreme circumstance in the short term, but with innovative thinking and investments, the drought may become an opportunity for the state to lead the entire Southwest U.S. forward towards resilience. In a world with a changing climate, resiliency will be measured in efficiency and adaptability. Southern California may feel a bit of squeeze at the beginning, but it will blossom into a new and more efficient and thriving economy and culture more in tune with its surrounding environment. Take a read of our blog in EcoWatch here.

Second, take action to stop the proposed Tar Sands Mine near the Colorado River in Utah! With many eyes focused on the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline controversy that would move tar sands mined in Canada to the gulf coast, there is a tar sands project gaining speed in eastern Utah that is being overlooked. A Canadian company with the name “U.S. Oil Sands” hopes to mine tar sands from tens of thousands of acres of land in Utah, which is estimated to have more than 50% of all tar sands in the United States. Tar sands is the dirtiest form of energy on the planet. Extracting, refining and burning tar sands produces three to five times as much CO2 as petroleum, which contributes dramatically to climate change. Tar sands mining could make our rivers and aquifers toxic, poisoning the drinking water for millions of people who depend on the Colorado River basin. The Colorado River system is already stressed from over-use, and polluting and using vast amounts of water to mine tar sands and oil shale is a dead-end for everyone.

Save The Colorado is working with a big coalition of groups from Denver to Los Angeles to address this threat to the Colorado River ecosystem. The State of Utah Division of Oil Gas and Mining (DOGM) should not approve the Revised Notice of Intent for Large Scale Mining for these tar sands. DOGM is accepting public comments until May 18. You can click through here to send an email to the DOGM asking them to REJECT this terrible idea. Please speak up for the Colorado Basin and a future free of dirty fossil fuels by clicking through here. 

Thank you for your support! Please stay tuned for more updates!

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