Surfing in the California desert? Developer’s plan sparks outrage over water use, drought
LA TimesIn a part of the Coachella Valley where exclusive neighborhoods wrap around lush golf courses and ponds, a stretch of open desert could be transformed into a new sort of artificial oasis. “There’s got to be a moratorium on this type of building, this type of excess water use,” Callimanis said, looking across the property, its dry soil dominated by creosote bushes. “You have to create some sort of a lifestyle as the centerpiece of why people want to come here.” The wave basin’s annual water use is estimated at 26 million gallons, including water that would need to be pumped to make up for evaporation, Gamlin said. According to the developer, the wave basin would account for less than 13% of the project’s total water use. The wave basin would be filled from a shallow private well that can pump water considered “non-potable,” Gamlin said.
History of this topic
Surfing in the Desert Comes With a Climate Cost
Bloomberg
Proposed surf park in California desert is rejected by La Quinta City Council
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California’s water conservation has been a bust so far. Will drought restrictions work?
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Californians Asked To Voluntarily Cut Water Usage Amid Historic Drought
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California Journal: A Bay Area town, criticized for building a water park during a historic drought, did not back down
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