Monday, August 18, 2008

Humboldt water to Southern Cal via water bags. Coming soon!

The Humboldt Bay Municipal Water has control of the Mad River water that provides most of Humboldt County residents and businesses with services. They have the capacity to move 70 million gallons a day, yet only provide around 40 million delivered. That means the district has the capability to provide 30 million gallons to some investor in the future. In the past, entrepreneurial private sector business has "floated" this idea around. It was not well received. But what if another municipality decided to try? We have a surplus of water, So-Cal has a need. It is not "if" they are coming, it is "when."

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

A big "no" on that idear.

Anonymous said...

It's irrelevant since most of SoCal is moving to water recycling and limited desalination.

Anonymous said...

Con: Unintended consequences of changing the sediment flow. Example, silt buildup at mouth altering the outflow and chaning bluff erosion patterns.

Con: Enables the wasteful nature of water use in dry areas.

Pro: In an actual water emergancy we can help our neighbors to the south.

A good technology to have but it should be owned and protected by the public.

jason

Joel Mielke said...

"It's irrelevant since most of SoCal is moving to water recycling and limited desalination."

That's news to me. From what I see down there, they recoil at the idea of recycling ("eeewww") and prefer blowing off their sidewalks with water to sweeping.

Anonymous said...

cpr, had the water bag proposal gone through the water was slated for industrial use. It was never proposed to supplement drinking supplies or household supplies. And I suggest you read more on this as San Diego and Ensenada in Mexico are already moving forward on these projects. LA is the city where it looks like the people think it's a bad idea.

Fred Mangels said...

I thought this was a great idea back when I first heard it: Hey, here's a resource we can use and sell!

I'll have to admit it was a lefty that made the argument that changed my mind. He wasn't quite right with the argument but he made me think further.

I came to realize that, once we contract the water out, we'll likely never be able to reclaim it for our own use. Think of all the lawsuits you've heard over water rights of various rivers, the Colorado River being one I keep hearing about, Owens(?) River another one.

I say keep the water and give it away only to help out our neighbors on occasion. Never sign a contract to sell it or we'll never get it back.

Anonymous said...

Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap campaigned entirely on the idea that she was against water-bagging. Then she voted repeatedly to continue studies on the issue. So much for the "progressive" opposition to this farce.

Anonymous said...

Is Kaitlin really a Green, or an aspiring Democrat?

Anonymous said...

Still technically the last Green officeholder (or so she thinks) after Pitino and Groves step down in December. She's got a Democrat opponent, and there are a couple of Democrats running for the McKinleyville water board seat too.

Anonymous said...

Yup, but Ben Shepard is one of those! Yikes!

samoasoftball said...

3:25pm- I think Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap may have been against private business ventures buying our water. I trust her judgement on the board and hope she is re-elected.

Anonymous said...

Ben Shepherd is a Democrat? You're kidding, right? I didn't know you could be that far right and still be a Democrat these days.

Anonymous said...

So let's get this straight Richard: You're in favor of a Green staying in office even with a progressive Democrat running against them? And you call yourself a member of the Democrat Central Committee?

samoasoftball said...

12:43pm-Kailin has a Democratic opponent? Who? I did not know that.

Anonymous said...

With Kaitlin's defeat, there won't be a single elected Green left in Humboldt County, signaling the final defeat of Cobb and all his evil works. Halelujiah.

Anonymous said...

The end of an error. With the Greens gone, maybe we can actually focus on IMPORTANT issues without the distraction of David Cobb and his kool-aid cronies.

Anonymous said...

Who is running for Water District? I haven't seen any news on it in the papers or on TV.

Anonymous said...

I wish people wouldn't spread complete lies and false statements.

There has not been a single vote since I have been in office on the issue of water transport or water bagging. No decisions, no studies. I have never voiced or indicated any support of anything concerning water transport, and I have never voted to study the topic.

I don't think my personal choice of political party should make much of a difference. I'm proud to run on my record which includes working very successfully with all my fellow board members including the Republicans and Democrats I serve with. We have built a culture of respect, honesty and open communication on the Water District board, even though we have one of the most politically diverse boards in the county.

If anyone has any questions about where I stand on Water District issues, please don't hesitate to contact me: http://hbmwd.com/board_directors

Sincerely,
Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap

Anonymous said...

We had better watch out.

If the southlanders start buying our water, pretty soon, they'll be able to buy it all.

We poor Humboldters will be unable to compete financially for water, and without water, living things like us die.

samoasoftball said...

Thank you Kaitlin for checking in. There you go. No rumors. Straight talk.