#bigwater — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #bigwater, aggregated by home.social.
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A More Troubling Picture of Sea Level Rise Is Coming into View
Scientists have uncovered a “blind spot” in the research on rising seas, revealing that tens of millions of people thought safe from coastal flooding are at risk of inundation. Across much of the world, sea levels are higher than previously assumed and land is sinking faster.
By Fred Pearce • April 9, 2026
Excerpt: "The other new study focused on the world’s #RiverDeltas. It has long been known that many #deltas are sinking under the influence of #Groundwater pumping. But as Robert Nicholls, climate adaptation researcher at the University of East Anglia, notes, 'There have been lots of different estimates.' Data were inconsistent and based on crude, delta-wide estimates. 'Now at last we have a consistent data set, with high spatial resolution.'
"That data comes from Leonard Ohenhen, an earth system scientist at the University of California, Irvine, who used satellite-mounted radar to produce 3D maps of subsidence on 40 of the world’s biggest and most populous river deltas. He has found that subsidence afflicts more than half those deltas. Most startlingly, in 18 cases subsidence rates exceed those of #RisingTides — hence, more than doubling the effective yearly rise in local sea levels, and in some cases multiplying it tenfold.
"This again puts tens of millions of people once thought safe from rising tides this century in imminent harm’s way, including those living on the deltas of the #Nile in #Egypt, the #Mekong in #Vietnam, the #Mahanadi in #India, and the #YellowRiver in #China. If the current rate of subsidence persists, these areas will be flooded much sooner than thought.
"Researchers say many deltas and other low-lying coastal areas not included in the two studies are at greater risk than believed and urgently require detailed investigation of both actual sea levels and the rate of land subsidence."
Read more:
https://e360.yale.edu/features/sea-level-rise-land-subsidence#SeaLevelRise #Subsidience #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #SeaLevels #RiverDeltas #GroundwaterExtraction #BigWater
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A More Troubling Picture of Sea Level Rise Is Coming into View
Scientists have uncovered a “blind spot” in the research on rising seas, revealing that tens of millions of people thought safe from coastal flooding are at risk of inundation. Across much of the world, sea levels are higher than previously assumed and land is sinking faster.
By Fred Pearce • April 9, 2026
Excerpt: "The other new study focused on the world’s #RiverDeltas. It has long been known that many #deltas are sinking under the influence of #Groundwater pumping. But as Robert Nicholls, climate adaptation researcher at the University of East Anglia, notes, 'There have been lots of different estimates.' Data were inconsistent and based on crude, delta-wide estimates. 'Now at last we have a consistent data set, with high spatial resolution.'
"That data comes from Leonard Ohenhen, an earth system scientist at the University of California, Irvine, who used satellite-mounted radar to produce 3D maps of subsidence on 40 of the world’s biggest and most populous river deltas. He has found that subsidence afflicts more than half those deltas. Most startlingly, in 18 cases subsidence rates exceed those of #RisingTides — hence, more than doubling the effective yearly rise in local sea levels, and in some cases multiplying it tenfold.
"This again puts tens of millions of people once thought safe from rising tides this century in imminent harm’s way, including those living on the deltas of the #Nile in #Egypt, the #Mekong in #Vietnam, the #Mahanadi in #India, and the #YellowRiver in #China. If the current rate of subsidence persists, these areas will be flooded much sooner than thought.
"Researchers say many deltas and other low-lying coastal areas not included in the two studies are at greater risk than believed and urgently require detailed investigation of both actual sea levels and the rate of land subsidence."
Read more:
https://e360.yale.edu/features/sea-level-rise-land-subsidence#SeaLevelRise #Subsidience #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #SeaLevels #RiverDeltas #GroundwaterExtraction #BigWater
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A More Troubling Picture of Sea Level Rise Is Coming into View
Scientists have uncovered a “blind spot” in the research on rising seas, revealing that tens of millions of people thought safe from coastal flooding are at risk of inundation. Across much of the world, sea levels are higher than previously assumed and land is sinking faster.
By Fred Pearce • April 9, 2026
Excerpt: "The other new study focused on the world’s #RiverDeltas. It has long been known that many #deltas are sinking under the influence of #Groundwater pumping. But as Robert Nicholls, climate adaptation researcher at the University of East Anglia, notes, 'There have been lots of different estimates.' Data were inconsistent and based on crude, delta-wide estimates. 'Now at last we have a consistent data set, with high spatial resolution.'
"That data comes from Leonard Ohenhen, an earth system scientist at the University of California, Irvine, who used satellite-mounted radar to produce 3D maps of subsidence on 40 of the world’s biggest and most populous river deltas. He has found that subsidence afflicts more than half those deltas. Most startlingly, in 18 cases subsidence rates exceed those of #RisingTides — hence, more than doubling the effective yearly rise in local sea levels, and in some cases multiplying it tenfold.
"This again puts tens of millions of people once thought safe from rising tides this century in imminent harm’s way, including those living on the deltas of the #Nile in #Egypt, the #Mekong in #Vietnam, the #Mahanadi in #India, and the #YellowRiver in #China. If the current rate of subsidence persists, these areas will be flooded much sooner than thought.
"Researchers say many deltas and other low-lying coastal areas not included in the two studies are at greater risk than believed and urgently require detailed investigation of both actual sea levels and the rate of land subsidence."
Read more:
https://e360.yale.edu/features/sea-level-rise-land-subsidence#SeaLevelRise #Subsidience #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #SeaLevels #RiverDeltas #GroundwaterExtraction #BigWater
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A More Troubling Picture of Sea Level Rise Is Coming into View
Scientists have uncovered a “blind spot” in the research on rising seas, revealing that tens of millions of people thought safe from coastal flooding are at risk of inundation. Across much of the world, sea levels are higher than previously assumed and land is sinking faster.
By Fred Pearce • April 9, 2026
Excerpt: "The other new study focused on the world’s #RiverDeltas. It has long been known that many #deltas are sinking under the influence of #Groundwater pumping. But as Robert Nicholls, climate adaptation researcher at the University of East Anglia, notes, 'There have been lots of different estimates.' Data were inconsistent and based on crude, delta-wide estimates. 'Now at last we have a consistent data set, with high spatial resolution.'
"That data comes from Leonard Ohenhen, an earth system scientist at the University of California, Irvine, who used satellite-mounted radar to produce 3D maps of subsidence on 40 of the world’s biggest and most populous river deltas. He has found that subsidence afflicts more than half those deltas. Most startlingly, in 18 cases subsidence rates exceed those of #RisingTides — hence, more than doubling the effective yearly rise in local sea levels, and in some cases multiplying it tenfold.
"This again puts tens of millions of people once thought safe from rising tides this century in imminent harm’s way, including those living on the deltas of the #Nile in #Egypt, the #Mekong in #Vietnam, the #Mahanadi in #India, and the #YellowRiver in #China. If the current rate of subsidence persists, these areas will be flooded much sooner than thought.
"Researchers say many deltas and other low-lying coastal areas not included in the two studies are at greater risk than believed and urgently require detailed investigation of both actual sea levels and the rate of land subsidence."
Read more:
https://e360.yale.edu/features/sea-level-rise-land-subsidence#SeaLevelRise #Subsidience #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #SeaLevels #RiverDeltas #GroundwaterExtraction #BigWater
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A More Troubling Picture of Sea Level Rise Is Coming into View
Scientists have uncovered a “blind spot” in the research on rising seas, revealing that tens of millions of people thought safe from coastal flooding are at risk of inundation. Across much of the world, sea levels are higher than previously assumed and land is sinking faster.
By Fred Pearce • April 9, 2026
Excerpt: "The other new study focused on the world’s #RiverDeltas. It has long been known that many #deltas are sinking under the influence of #Groundwater pumping. But as Robert Nicholls, climate adaptation researcher at the University of East Anglia, notes, 'There have been lots of different estimates.' Data were inconsistent and based on crude, delta-wide estimates. 'Now at last we have a consistent data set, with high spatial resolution.'
"That data comes from Leonard Ohenhen, an earth system scientist at the University of California, Irvine, who used satellite-mounted radar to produce 3D maps of subsidence on 40 of the world’s biggest and most populous river deltas. He has found that subsidence afflicts more than half those deltas. Most startlingly, in 18 cases subsidence rates exceed those of #RisingTides — hence, more than doubling the effective yearly rise in local sea levels, and in some cases multiplying it tenfold.
"This again puts tens of millions of people once thought safe from rising tides this century in imminent harm’s way, including those living on the deltas of the #Nile in #Egypt, the #Mekong in #Vietnam, the #Mahanadi in #India, and the #YellowRiver in #China. If the current rate of subsidence persists, these areas will be flooded much sooner than thought.
"Researchers say many deltas and other low-lying coastal areas not included in the two studies are at greater risk than believed and urgently require detailed investigation of both actual sea levels and the rate of land subsidence."
Read more:
https://e360.yale.edu/features/sea-level-rise-land-subsidence#SeaLevelRise #Subsidience #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #SeaLevels #RiverDeltas #GroundwaterExtraction #BigWater
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@MissConstrue Well, if #BigWater wants to control aquifers, they can't have folks intercepting rainwater without paying.
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So, Australia isn't a good example, @NickSchwanck -- since they encourage rainwater collection and use. But apparently, things are a bit different in Spain. However, do we really want #BigWater to be catching all the rainwater and selling it back to us? (That's the situation in some places in the USA.)
"In Spain, where water scarcity is a recurring concern and climate change is reshaping hydrological patterns, collecting rainwater might seem like a smart, eco-friendly move. And it is—but only if you follow the rules. While the idea of catching drops from your rooftop sounds simple, the legal framework behind it is anything but casual.
Water Belongs to the Public
Spain’s water resources are governed by the Ley de Aguas, codified in Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2001, which declares all water—surface and groundwater—as part of the dominio público hidráulico (public hydraulic domain). This includes rainwater once it enters a collection system. The law doesn’t prohibit harvesting, but it regulates it through administrative titles: declaración responsable, autorización, or concesión, depending on the scale and purpose of use."
https://www.allowedornot.com/2025/10/25/is-it-allowed-to-collect-rainwater-in-spain/
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Oh boy... #PolandSpring #BlueTriton is in the news again! #HollisME fought back against deceptive practices regarding #WaterExtraction a couple of years ago... The fight isn't over!
Muckraking video: Poland Spring claims don't hold water
Daymond Steer Dec 8, 2025
FRYEBURG, Maine — "A national non-profit media outlet has made a short video about Poland Spring's Water extraction practices in #FryeburgME, #DenmarkME and #HollisME and posted it to its website and on social media.
The video claims Poland Spring took more water during last summer's drought than locals were led to believe."
https://www.conwaydailysun.com/news/local/muckraking-video-poland-spring-claims-dont-hold-water/
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Oh boy... #PolandSpring #BlueTriton is in the news again! #HollisME fought back against deceptive practices regarding #WaterExtraction a couple of years ago... The fight isn't over!
Muckraking video: Poland Spring claims don't hold water
Daymond Steer Dec 8, 2025
FRYEBURG, Maine — "A national non-profit media outlet has made a short video about Poland Spring's Water extraction practices in #FryeburgME, #DenmarkME and #HollisME and posted it to its website and on social media.
The video claims Poland Spring took more water during last summer's drought than locals were led to believe."
https://www.conwaydailysun.com/news/local/muckraking-video-poland-spring-claims-dont-hold-water/
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Oh boy... #PolandSpring #BlueTriton is in the news again! #HollisME fought back against deceptive practices regarding #WaterExtraction a couple of years ago... The fight isn't over!
Muckraking video: Poland Spring claims don't hold water
Daymond Steer Dec 8, 2025
FRYEBURG, Maine — "A national non-profit media outlet has made a short video about Poland Spring's Water extraction practices in #FryeburgME, #DenmarkME and #HollisME and posted it to its website and on social media.
The video claims Poland Spring took more water during last summer's drought than locals were led to believe."
https://www.conwaydailysun.com/news/local/muckraking-video-poland-spring-claims-dont-hold-water/
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Oh boy... #PolandSpring #BlueTriton is in the news again! #HollisME fought back against deceptive practices regarding #WaterExtraction a couple of years ago... The fight isn't over!
Muckraking video: Poland Spring claims don't hold water
Daymond Steer Dec 8, 2025
FRYEBURG, Maine — "A national non-profit media outlet has made a short video about Poland Spring's Water extraction practices in #FryeburgME, #DenmarkME and #HollisME and posted it to its website and on social media.
The video claims Poland Spring took more water during last summer's drought than locals were led to believe."
https://www.conwaydailysun.com/news/local/muckraking-video-poland-spring-claims-dont-hold-water/
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Oh boy... #PolandSpring #BlueTriton is in the news again! #HollisME fought back against deceptive practices regarding #WaterExtraction a couple of years ago... The fight isn't over!
Muckraking video: Poland Spring claims don't hold water
Daymond Steer Dec 8, 2025
FRYEBURG, Maine — "A national non-profit media outlet has made a short video about Poland Spring's Water extraction practices in #FryeburgME, #DenmarkME and #HollisME and posted it to its website and on social media.
The video claims Poland Spring took more water during last summer's drought than locals were led to believe."
https://www.conwaydailysun.com/news/local/muckraking-video-poland-spring-claims-dont-hold-water/
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@stevefoerster Oh I know. TBH, it's probably because some big corporations either abuse the process, or don't want the competition!
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#Vacationland #FilmFestival this weekend in #BiddefordME! Highlights include "#StolenSprings" (about #PolandSpring and #BigWater), "Invisible" (about life with #ChronicIllness), and "An Extraordinary Place" (#WMPG documentary with my buddy, #DJShaxx !), all in a restored historic (and haunted) theatre!
2nd Vacationland Film Festival
August 21-24, 2025
Biddeford City Theater -
#Vacationland #FilmFestival this weekend in #BiddefordME! Highlights include "#StolenSprings" (about #PolandSpring and #BigWater), "Invisible" (about life with #ChronicIllness), and "An Extraordinary Place" (#WMPG documentary with my buddy, #DJShaxx !), all in a restored historic (and haunted) theatre!
2nd Vacationland Film Festival
August 21-24, 2025
Biddeford City Theater -
via @indybay
Tribes, enviros speak out against trailer bills to fast-track #DeltaTunnel project
“Delta tribes deserve a responsible and equitable approach to water management in the state that does not require jamming a tunnel through the Delta, destroying our ancestral homelands and waterways, or desecrating sacred sites and ancestral remains,” said Malissa Tayaba, Vice Chair with the #ShingleSpringsBand of #MiwokIndians.
by Dan Bacher
Mon, Aug 11, 2025 4:19PMSacramento, CA – "On an unusually mild summer day, Tribal leaders and environmental justice advocates met with legislators at the State Capitol on July 16 for the 2025 Day of Action for #WaterJustice.
"They urged the legislators to reject Governor Newsom’s proposed trailer bills that they say would fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project (#DCP) and bypass critical #EnvironmentalProtections at a time when the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is in unprecedented ecological crisis — and a number of fish species are on the edge of #extinction.
"The day-long event started with meetings between Tribal members, environmental advocates and legislators to urge support for 'equitable, science-based water solutions' that protect the #BayDelta and to reject the financially reckless Delta Conveyance Project that threatens ecosystems, Tribal sovereignty, and public health, according to a statement from #RestoreTheDelta.
[...]
"At the press conference on the Capitol steps, advocates called on lawmakers to reject trailer bills that would provide CEQA exemptions for the #DeltaConveyanceProject, circumventing existing law, court rulings and public opinion.
"Specifically, the coalition called on lawmakers to:
- Vote NO on SB 72 that undermines the #DeltaReformAct and sets arbitrary water supply targets;
- Vote YES on AB 362 that protects tribal beneficial uses of water and to;
- Vote YES on AB 263, extending emergency protections currently in place for the #ScottRiver and #ShastaRiver, a high priority for the recovery of #CohoSalmon.
"Speakers at the press conference included representatives from the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the #WinnememWintu Tribe, as well as elected leaders and representatives from Restore the Delta, #SierraClub California, #FriendsOfTheRiver, #DefendersOfWildlife, #SanFranciscoBaykeeper and the #DeltaCountiesCoalition.
"Malissa Tayaba, Vice Chair with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, began the press conference emphasizing the harm that the Delta Tunnel would cause to Tribes and #disadvantaged communities.
" 'Delta tribes deserve a responsible and equitable approach to water management in the state that does not require jamming a tunnel through the Delta, destroying our #AncestralHomelands and waterways, or desecrating #SacredSites and ancestral remains,' said Tayaba. 'Our culture and identities are intrinsically tied to the Delta. There is no price tag worth paying that would ever justify the harm done to us or the unquantifiable costs that Tribes and disadvantaged communities would ultimately bear.'
"Gary Mulcahy, Government Liaison with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, followed Tayaba by stating, “There is nothing about the Delta Tunnel Project that significantly benefits anyone except #BigAg and south of the Delta water agencies, while putting #EndangeredSpecies, tribal cultural resources, and disadvantaged communities and the viability of the S.F Bay-Delta itself at risk. #CEQA exemptions continue to attempt to erase Tribes from #WaterGovernance.”
[...]
" 'Instead of wasting ratepayer money to keep pushing this expensive environmental justice debacle, we need to sees investments in local water supply like #RecycledWater, and the Freshwater Pathways program that would improve Delta levees to keep communities safe and improve State Water Project reliability in an emergency. We urge a commitment to vote NO on the return the Delta Conveyance Project and Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan bills,' Wagner said."
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2025/08/11/18878845.php
#WaterIsLife #TribalGovernance #CulturalPreservation #CulturalErasure #BigAgriculture #BigWater #GavinNewsome #CaliforniaPol #Graywater
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via @indybay
Tribes, enviros speak out against trailer bills to fast-track #DeltaTunnel project
“Delta tribes deserve a responsible and equitable approach to water management in the state that does not require jamming a tunnel through the Delta, destroying our ancestral homelands and waterways, or desecrating sacred sites and ancestral remains,” said Malissa Tayaba, Vice Chair with the #ShingleSpringsBand of #MiwokIndians.
by Dan Bacher
Mon, Aug 11, 2025 4:19PMSacramento, CA – "On an unusually mild summer day, Tribal leaders and environmental justice advocates met with legislators at the State Capitol on July 16 for the 2025 Day of Action for #WaterJustice.
"They urged the legislators to reject Governor Newsom’s proposed trailer bills that they say would fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project (#DCP) and bypass critical #EnvironmentalProtections at a time when the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is in unprecedented ecological crisis — and a number of fish species are on the edge of #extinction.
"The day-long event started with meetings between Tribal members, environmental advocates and legislators to urge support for 'equitable, science-based water solutions' that protect the #BayDelta and to reject the financially reckless Delta Conveyance Project that threatens ecosystems, Tribal sovereignty, and public health, according to a statement from #RestoreTheDelta.
[...]
"At the press conference on the Capitol steps, advocates called on lawmakers to reject trailer bills that would provide CEQA exemptions for the #DeltaConveyanceProject, circumventing existing law, court rulings and public opinion.
"Specifically, the coalition called on lawmakers to:
- Vote NO on SB 72 that undermines the #DeltaReformAct and sets arbitrary water supply targets;
- Vote YES on AB 362 that protects tribal beneficial uses of water and to;
- Vote YES on AB 263, extending emergency protections currently in place for the #ScottRiver and #ShastaRiver, a high priority for the recovery of #CohoSalmon.
"Speakers at the press conference included representatives from the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the #WinnememWintu Tribe, as well as elected leaders and representatives from Restore the Delta, #SierraClub California, #FriendsOfTheRiver, #DefendersOfWildlife, #SanFranciscoBaykeeper and the #DeltaCountiesCoalition.
"Malissa Tayaba, Vice Chair with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, began the press conference emphasizing the harm that the Delta Tunnel would cause to Tribes and #disadvantaged communities.
" 'Delta tribes deserve a responsible and equitable approach to water management in the state that does not require jamming a tunnel through the Delta, destroying our #AncestralHomelands and waterways, or desecrating #SacredSites and ancestral remains,' said Tayaba. 'Our culture and identities are intrinsically tied to the Delta. There is no price tag worth paying that would ever justify the harm done to us or the unquantifiable costs that Tribes and disadvantaged communities would ultimately bear.'
"Gary Mulcahy, Government Liaison with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, followed Tayaba by stating, “There is nothing about the Delta Tunnel Project that significantly benefits anyone except #BigAg and south of the Delta water agencies, while putting #EndangeredSpecies, tribal cultural resources, and disadvantaged communities and the viability of the S.F Bay-Delta itself at risk. #CEQA exemptions continue to attempt to erase Tribes from #WaterGovernance.”
[...]
" 'Instead of wasting ratepayer money to keep pushing this expensive environmental justice debacle, we need to sees investments in local water supply like #RecycledWater, and the Freshwater Pathways program that would improve Delta levees to keep communities safe and improve State Water Project reliability in an emergency. We urge a commitment to vote NO on the return the Delta Conveyance Project and Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan bills,' Wagner said."
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2025/08/11/18878845.php
#WaterIsLife #TribalGovernance #CulturalPreservation #CulturalErasure #BigAgriculture #BigWater #GavinNewsome #CaliforniaPol #Graywater
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via @indybay
Tribes, enviros speak out against trailer bills to fast-track #DeltaTunnel project
“Delta tribes deserve a responsible and equitable approach to water management in the state that does not require jamming a tunnel through the Delta, destroying our ancestral homelands and waterways, or desecrating sacred sites and ancestral remains,” said Malissa Tayaba, Vice Chair with the #ShingleSpringsBand of #MiwokIndians.
by Dan Bacher
Mon, Aug 11, 2025 4:19PMSacramento, CA – "On an unusually mild summer day, Tribal leaders and environmental justice advocates met with legislators at the State Capitol on July 16 for the 2025 Day of Action for #WaterJustice.
"They urged the legislators to reject Governor Newsom’s proposed trailer bills that they say would fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project (#DCP) and bypass critical #EnvironmentalProtections at a time when the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is in unprecedented ecological crisis — and a number of fish species are on the edge of #extinction.
"The day-long event started with meetings between Tribal members, environmental advocates and legislators to urge support for 'equitable, science-based water solutions' that protect the #BayDelta and to reject the financially reckless Delta Conveyance Project that threatens ecosystems, Tribal sovereignty, and public health, according to a statement from #RestoreTheDelta.
[...]
"At the press conference on the Capitol steps, advocates called on lawmakers to reject trailer bills that would provide CEQA exemptions for the #DeltaConveyanceProject, circumventing existing law, court rulings and public opinion.
"Specifically, the coalition called on lawmakers to:
- Vote NO on SB 72 that undermines the #DeltaReformAct and sets arbitrary water supply targets;
- Vote YES on AB 362 that protects tribal beneficial uses of water and to;
- Vote YES on AB 263, extending emergency protections currently in place for the #ScottRiver and #ShastaRiver, a high priority for the recovery of #CohoSalmon.
"Speakers at the press conference included representatives from the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the #WinnememWintu Tribe, as well as elected leaders and representatives from Restore the Delta, #SierraClub California, #FriendsOfTheRiver, #DefendersOfWildlife, #SanFranciscoBaykeeper and the #DeltaCountiesCoalition.
"Malissa Tayaba, Vice Chair with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, began the press conference emphasizing the harm that the Delta Tunnel would cause to Tribes and #disadvantaged communities.
" 'Delta tribes deserve a responsible and equitable approach to water management in the state that does not require jamming a tunnel through the Delta, destroying our #AncestralHomelands and waterways, or desecrating #SacredSites and ancestral remains,' said Tayaba. 'Our culture and identities are intrinsically tied to the Delta. There is no price tag worth paying that would ever justify the harm done to us or the unquantifiable costs that Tribes and disadvantaged communities would ultimately bear.'
"Gary Mulcahy, Government Liaison with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, followed Tayaba by stating, “There is nothing about the Delta Tunnel Project that significantly benefits anyone except #BigAg and south of the Delta water agencies, while putting #EndangeredSpecies, tribal cultural resources, and disadvantaged communities and the viability of the S.F Bay-Delta itself at risk. #CEQA exemptions continue to attempt to erase Tribes from #WaterGovernance.”
[...]
" 'Instead of wasting ratepayer money to keep pushing this expensive environmental justice debacle, we need to sees investments in local water supply like #RecycledWater, and the Freshwater Pathways program that would improve Delta levees to keep communities safe and improve State Water Project reliability in an emergency. We urge a commitment to vote NO on the return the Delta Conveyance Project and Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan bills,' Wagner said."
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2025/08/11/18878845.php
#WaterIsLife #TribalGovernance #CulturalPreservation #CulturalErasure #BigAgriculture #BigWater #GavinNewsome #CaliforniaPol #Graywater
-
via @indybay
Tribes, enviros speak out against trailer bills to fast-track #DeltaTunnel project
“Delta tribes deserve a responsible and equitable approach to water management in the state that does not require jamming a tunnel through the Delta, destroying our ancestral homelands and waterways, or desecrating sacred sites and ancestral remains,” said Malissa Tayaba, Vice Chair with the #ShingleSpringsBand of #MiwokIndians.
by Dan Bacher
Mon, Aug 11, 2025 4:19PMSacramento, CA – "On an unusually mild summer day, Tribal leaders and environmental justice advocates met with legislators at the State Capitol on July 16 for the 2025 Day of Action for #WaterJustice.
"They urged the legislators to reject Governor Newsom’s proposed trailer bills that they say would fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project (#DCP) and bypass critical #EnvironmentalProtections at a time when the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is in unprecedented ecological crisis — and a number of fish species are on the edge of #extinction.
"The day-long event started with meetings between Tribal members, environmental advocates and legislators to urge support for 'equitable, science-based water solutions' that protect the #BayDelta and to reject the financially reckless Delta Conveyance Project that threatens ecosystems, Tribal sovereignty, and public health, according to a statement from #RestoreTheDelta.
[...]
"At the press conference on the Capitol steps, advocates called on lawmakers to reject trailer bills that would provide CEQA exemptions for the #DeltaConveyanceProject, circumventing existing law, court rulings and public opinion.
"Specifically, the coalition called on lawmakers to:
- Vote NO on SB 72 that undermines the #DeltaReformAct and sets arbitrary water supply targets;
- Vote YES on AB 362 that protects tribal beneficial uses of water and to;
- Vote YES on AB 263, extending emergency protections currently in place for the #ScottRiver and #ShastaRiver, a high priority for the recovery of #CohoSalmon.
"Speakers at the press conference included representatives from the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the #WinnememWintu Tribe, as well as elected leaders and representatives from Restore the Delta, #SierraClub California, #FriendsOfTheRiver, #DefendersOfWildlife, #SanFranciscoBaykeeper and the #DeltaCountiesCoalition.
"Malissa Tayaba, Vice Chair with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, began the press conference emphasizing the harm that the Delta Tunnel would cause to Tribes and #disadvantaged communities.
" 'Delta tribes deserve a responsible and equitable approach to water management in the state that does not require jamming a tunnel through the Delta, destroying our #AncestralHomelands and waterways, or desecrating #SacredSites and ancestral remains,' said Tayaba. 'Our culture and identities are intrinsically tied to the Delta. There is no price tag worth paying that would ever justify the harm done to us or the unquantifiable costs that Tribes and disadvantaged communities would ultimately bear.'
"Gary Mulcahy, Government Liaison with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, followed Tayaba by stating, “There is nothing about the Delta Tunnel Project that significantly benefits anyone except #BigAg and south of the Delta water agencies, while putting #EndangeredSpecies, tribal cultural resources, and disadvantaged communities and the viability of the S.F Bay-Delta itself at risk. #CEQA exemptions continue to attempt to erase Tribes from #WaterGovernance.”
[...]
" 'Instead of wasting ratepayer money to keep pushing this expensive environmental justice debacle, we need to sees investments in local water supply like #RecycledWater, and the Freshwater Pathways program that would improve Delta levees to keep communities safe and improve State Water Project reliability in an emergency. We urge a commitment to vote NO on the return the Delta Conveyance Project and Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan bills,' Wagner said."
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2025/08/11/18878845.php
#WaterIsLife #TribalGovernance #CulturalPreservation #CulturalErasure #BigAgriculture #BigWater #GavinNewsome #CaliforniaPol #Graywater
-
via @indybay
Tribes, enviros speak out against trailer bills to fast-track #DeltaTunnel project
“Delta tribes deserve a responsible and equitable approach to water management in the state that does not require jamming a tunnel through the Delta, destroying our ancestral homelands and waterways, or desecrating sacred sites and ancestral remains,” said Malissa Tayaba, Vice Chair with the #ShingleSpringsBand of #MiwokIndians.
by Dan Bacher
Mon, Aug 11, 2025 4:19PMSacramento, CA – "On an unusually mild summer day, Tribal leaders and environmental justice advocates met with legislators at the State Capitol on July 16 for the 2025 Day of Action for #WaterJustice.
"They urged the legislators to reject Governor Newsom’s proposed trailer bills that they say would fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project (#DCP) and bypass critical #EnvironmentalProtections at a time when the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is in unprecedented ecological crisis — and a number of fish species are on the edge of #extinction.
"The day-long event started with meetings between Tribal members, environmental advocates and legislators to urge support for 'equitable, science-based water solutions' that protect the #BayDelta and to reject the financially reckless Delta Conveyance Project that threatens ecosystems, Tribal sovereignty, and public health, according to a statement from #RestoreTheDelta.
[...]
"At the press conference on the Capitol steps, advocates called on lawmakers to reject trailer bills that would provide CEQA exemptions for the #DeltaConveyanceProject, circumventing existing law, court rulings and public opinion.
"Specifically, the coalition called on lawmakers to:
- Vote NO on SB 72 that undermines the #DeltaReformAct and sets arbitrary water supply targets;
- Vote YES on AB 362 that protects tribal beneficial uses of water and to;
- Vote YES on AB 263, extending emergency protections currently in place for the #ScottRiver and #ShastaRiver, a high priority for the recovery of #CohoSalmon.
"Speakers at the press conference included representatives from the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the #WinnememWintu Tribe, as well as elected leaders and representatives from Restore the Delta, #SierraClub California, #FriendsOfTheRiver, #DefendersOfWildlife, #SanFranciscoBaykeeper and the #DeltaCountiesCoalition.
"Malissa Tayaba, Vice Chair with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, began the press conference emphasizing the harm that the Delta Tunnel would cause to Tribes and #disadvantaged communities.
" 'Delta tribes deserve a responsible and equitable approach to water management in the state that does not require jamming a tunnel through the Delta, destroying our #AncestralHomelands and waterways, or desecrating #SacredSites and ancestral remains,' said Tayaba. 'Our culture and identities are intrinsically tied to the Delta. There is no price tag worth paying that would ever justify the harm done to us or the unquantifiable costs that Tribes and disadvantaged communities would ultimately bear.'
"Gary Mulcahy, Government Liaison with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, followed Tayaba by stating, “There is nothing about the Delta Tunnel Project that significantly benefits anyone except #BigAg and south of the Delta water agencies, while putting #EndangeredSpecies, tribal cultural resources, and disadvantaged communities and the viability of the S.F Bay-Delta itself at risk. #CEQA exemptions continue to attempt to erase Tribes from #WaterGovernance.”
[...]
" 'Instead of wasting ratepayer money to keep pushing this expensive environmental justice debacle, we need to sees investments in local water supply like #RecycledWater, and the Freshwater Pathways program that would improve Delta levees to keep communities safe and improve State Water Project reliability in an emergency. We urge a commitment to vote NO on the return the Delta Conveyance Project and Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan bills,' Wagner said."
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2025/08/11/18878845.php
#WaterIsLife #TribalGovernance #CulturalPreservation #CulturalErasure #BigAgriculture #BigWater #GavinNewsome #CaliforniaPol #Graywater
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Speaking of #Rewilding, some new signs went up at nearby #CaliforniaFields in Southern #Maine! Looks like the #MaineDepartmentOfInlandFisheries finally acknowledged that there are some #EndangeredSpecies there, and put the pressure on #BlueTriton / #PolandSprings / #BigWater -- who had planted a bunch of pine trees in the field (to hide the drilled wells that they claim are "springs"). But now they have to take them down and restore the grasslands! (And it's full of #Milkweed which the #MonarchButterflies love!)
#GrasshopperSparrow #UplandSandpiper #NorthernHarrier, #HornedLark, #Kestrel, #Meadowlark, #Bobolink -
This is the irrigation canal out near #Deniliquin.
There is a serious amount of water on the move here.
No wonder the sign says "no swimming". -
Nevada jury hands $5.2 billion verdict against Vegas company in #BottledWater liver damage lawsuit
Updated 3:25 PM EDT, October 24, 2024
"Juries have previously delivered separate verdicts against the company, awarding plaintiffs almost $3.1 billion in June,$130 million in February and $228 million in October 2023. Juries have been told that tests found #RealWater contained #hydrazine, a chemical used in #RocketFuel that may have been introduced during treatment before bottling."
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Nevada jury hands $5.2 billion verdict against Vegas company in #BottledWater liver damage lawsuit
Updated 3:25 PM EDT, October 24, 2024
"Juries have previously delivered separate verdicts against the company, awarding plaintiffs almost $3.1 billion in June,$130 million in February and $228 million in October 2023. Juries have been told that tests found #RealWater contained #hydrazine, a chemical used in #RocketFuel that may have been introduced during treatment before bottling."
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Nevada jury hands $5.2 billion verdict against Vegas company in #BottledWater liver damage lawsuit
Updated 3:25 PM EDT, October 24, 2024
"Juries have previously delivered separate verdicts against the company, awarding plaintiffs almost $3.1 billion in June,$130 million in February and $228 million in October 2023. Juries have been told that tests found #RealWater contained #hydrazine, a chemical used in #RocketFuel that may have been introduced during treatment before bottling."
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Nevada jury hands $5.2 billion verdict against Vegas company in #BottledWater liver damage lawsuit
Updated 3:25 PM EDT, October 24, 2024
"Juries have previously delivered separate verdicts against the company, awarding plaintiffs almost $3.1 billion in June,$130 million in February and $228 million in October 2023. Juries have been told that tests found #RealWater contained #hydrazine, a chemical used in #RocketFuel that may have been introduced during treatment before bottling."
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Nevada jury hands $5.2 billion verdict against Vegas company in #BottledWater liver damage lawsuit
Updated 3:25 PM EDT, October 24, 2024
"Juries have previously delivered separate verdicts against the company, awarding plaintiffs almost $3.1 billion in June,$130 million in February and $228 million in October 2023. Juries have been told that tests found #RealWater contained #hydrazine, a chemical used in #RocketFuel that may have been introduced during treatment before bottling."
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While @WorldBank, #BigWater as@suez @Veolia @cocacola @nestle keep promoting water privatization or so-called Public-Private-Partnership , UK is learning the lesson and hopefully taking measures: End an experiment that has failed. Editorial in @guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jun/12/the-guardian-view-on-water-privatisation-end-an-experiment-that-has-failed -
#LocalActivism does work! A couple of years ago, #PolandSpring tried to double their extraction in my town during a time of #SevereDrought in #Maine. Myself and my neighbors fought back -- with maps of the aquifers showing how everything was connected -- and how #BigWater tried to alter the maps to reflect their interests! Always keep in mind -- the more a corporation *sponsors* local causes, the more they have to be accountable for. It's usually #GuiltMoney designed to skew the public in their favor!
Poland Spring withdraws request to extract more water in Hollis after residents object
By David Dahl
September 9, 2022The request came as Hollis and the rest of Maine suffered a drought. Townspeople expressed their outrage at public meetings.
#ClimateChange #WaterIsLife #CorporateColonialism #BlueTriton #WaterExtraction
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Inside #PolandSpring’s Hidden Attack on #WaterRules It Didn’t Like
By Hiroko Tabuchi | Oct. 24, 2023 | New York Times
"When #Maine lawmakers tried to rein in large-scale access to the state’s #freshwater this year, the effort initially gained momentum. The state had just emerged from #drought, and many Mainers were sympathetic to protecting their snow-fed #lakes and #streams.
“Then a #WallStreet-backed giant called #BlueTriton stepped in.
“BlueTriton isn’t a household name, but its products are. Americans today buy more bottled water than any other packaged drink, and BlueTriton owns many of the nation’s biggest brands, including Poland Spring, named after a natural spring in Maine that ran dry decades ago.
“Maine’s bill threatened BlueTriton’s access to the #groundwater it bottles and sells. The legislation had already gotten a majority vote on the committee and was headed toward the full Legislature, when a lobbyist for BlueTriton proposed an amendment that would gut the entire bill.
“'Strike everything,' starts the proposed amendment, which was written in a Word document that contained a digital signature showing that it had been created by Elizabeth M. Frazier, who represents BlueTriton and is one of the most influential #lobbyists in Maine. The document was e-mailed by Ms. Frazier to lawmakers in the days after the committee vote.
“After BlueTriton’s intervention, the committee pulled the bill back. The company’s actions, which haven’t previously been reported, were described to The New York Times by three state legislators. The Times also reviewed several of the e-mails sent by Ms. Frazier as well as the Word document.
“'We couldn’t believe it. Their amendment strikes the entire bill,' said Christopher Kessler, a Democratic state representative who represents South Portland and a committee member who voted to advance the bill. 'Because all this happened behind closed doors, the public doesn’t know that Poland Spring stalled the process.'
“Bottlers have faced increasing scrutiny for the millions of throwaway #plastic bottles they produce, the marketing message that their products are safer or healthier than tap water, and for a business model in which they buy freshwater, often at low cost, only to sell it back to the public at much higher prices.
“And while the bottled-water business doesn’t use nearly as much groundwater as the nation’s thirstiest industries, like agriculture, the pressure on bottlers is building as awareness grows of the stress that intensive pumping can place on local water supplies. A Times investigation this year revealed that many of the aquifers that supply 90% of the nation’s water systems are being severely depleted as overuse and #GlobalWarming transform fragile #ecosystems.
“BlueTriton has been caught up in issues of local opposition and water use, and not only in Maine. The company also is fighting for access to water sources in numerous states, including #Michigan, #Colorado and others.
“In response to detailed questions, BlueTriton on Monday pointed The Times to a new page on its corporate website. 'After thoughtful consideration, BlueTriton opposes the proposed legislation,' the page says, because the bill 'would make it unaffordable for any large-scale water purchaser, including Poland Spring, to invest in infrastructure and operations.'
“Ms. Frazier didn’t respond to detailed questions.
“Groundwater use is regulated by states, not the federal government, which means there is little national coordination, monitoring or management of a vital natural resource. Maine’s bill seeks, among other things, to put a seven-year limit on contracts for large-scale freshwater pumping by corporations that ship water out of Maine, and to make the deals subject to local approval. That would block BlueTriton’s current efforts to lock in contracts up to 45 years long for pumping water.
“'We couldn’t believe it,' State Representative Christopher Kessler said of the lobbying effort.
“Industries and other interest groups routinely try to influence lawmaking, and there has been no suggestion that Ms. Frazier violated any rules. But it seemed 'unusual procedurally' for a corporation to propose rewriting an entire bill after it had already advanced within the Legislature, said Anthony Moffa, associate professor at the University of Maine School of Law.
“State senator Mark Lawrence, a Democrat who heads the committee considering the bill, said the committee would consider amendments proposed by any interested person or party. In Maine, 'a lot of the legislation that’s proposed is written by lobbyists, companies, different people like that,' he said.
“Mr. Lawrence also said that, at the same time the amendment was proposed, several members had begun to express fresh concerns that the State Legislature would be setting overly stringent curbs on contracts.
“BlueTriton finds itself pitted against local water boards, environmentalists and other groups across the country.
“In Colorado, environmental groups have been battling a 10-year contract that BlueTriton renewed with a semi-arid county to pump water from the Upper Arkansas River Basin, a region affected by historic drought.
“In #California, BlueTriton has publicly criticized and vowed to fight a cease-and-desist order issued by the state’s water board to stop diverting millions of gallons of water from a spring in San Bernardino County.
“In Michigan, lawmakers have proposed legislation that would close a loophole that enables BlueTriton and other commercial water users to pump water from the protected Great Lakes watershed. Known as the 'bottled-water loophole,' it allows for water to be used this way if it’s in containers that are 5.7 gallons or less.
“On its new corporate page, BlueTriton said 'there is no evidence of adverse impacts to the aquifer' in Colorado, and that California’s ruling 'negatively impacts every water agency and farmer in California that relies on groundwater, and in doing so, indirectly harms every Californian.'
“BlueTriton is a major presence in Maine, drawing water from eight locations around the state. It is currently trying to lock in a new contract of up to 45 years to pump water in Lincoln a former mill town.
“That would be BlueTriton’s second decades-long contract in the state, the kind of deals that would run afoul of the State Legislature’s proposed 7-year cap. The company’s pursuit of these deals, and the uncertainties of how climate change may affect Maine’s water supplies in the future, is what inspired the legislation, said Margaret M. O’Neil, the Democratic state legislator who introduced the bill.
“'We’re seeing our communities get locked into these contracts that are going to last, basically, the rest of my lifetime,' which is too risky, she said, considering climate uncertainties.
“In 2016-17 and in 2020-22, Maine experienced significant drought, followed by wet years. The state has also started seeing what scientists call 'snow drought.' As winters warm because of #ClimateChange, #snowpack and groundwater recharge can dwindle.
“John Mullaney, a hydrologist with the USGS's New England Water Science Center, said that a warming climate meant Maine was likely to experience more variability, with stronger rains but also worsening drought. 'The question is, what will we be able to do in 50 years,' he said. 'There might be changes that need to be made, including reducing groundwater extraction.'
“Industry groups emphasize that Maine still has ample groundwater and that bottled water accounts for only a small portion of its use compared to practices like irrigation. They also stress bottled water’s value in emergencies when drinking water is disrupted.
“And in Maine, BlueTriton has a powerful local ally: local water utilities, which say the revenue generated by selling water to bottlers helps keep costs down for everyone else.
“'Turning away a customer that’s seeking to pay money to the utility because of an alleged problem with extraction would be contrary' to ratepayers’ interests, said Roger Crouse, a board member at the Maine Water Utilities Association. 'If they have a contract that could be expiring in seven years, and the math doesn’t work out, they’re going to have to invest their money somewhere else.'
“Still, hydrologists warn that bottled water should not be discounted as an additional strain on aquifers and watersheds, as well as on residential wells. Last month, the US Geological Survey began its first-ever study of how the activities of the bottled water industry result in changes to groundwater levels, spring flows and water quality. 'Withdrawals, no matter what the use, influence movement of groundwater,' Cheryl Dieter, a hydrologist who is leading the study, said in an interview.
“BlueTriton itself is a creation of Wall Street. It is owned by the private equity funds One Rock Capital Partners and Metropoulos & Co., which paid $4.3 billion in 2021 to buy Nestlé’s North American bottled-water business.
“In Maine, some neighbors of BlueTriton, like Natalie DiPentino, are skeptical of the company for more personal reasons.
“Ms. DiPentino, who lives near Lincoln, can’t prove it but wonders if pumping by Poland Spring contributed to a crisis in her home during a drought in 2017, when her well ran dry along with those of several neighbors. Her family had to haul buckets of river water to flush the toilet, she said. Stores nearby ran out of bottled water.
“After learning about BlueTriton’s proposed 45-year contract at its Lincoln facility, she led calls for a public hearing, arguing that deals were being cut behind closed doors and that Poland Spring would be paying too little, $15,000 a month, for millions of gallons of water. 'You don’t know how badly you need water until you don’t have it in your house,' she said.
“The hearing she sought is now scheduled for next month."
Full article:
https://waterwatch.org/inside-poland-springs-hidden-attack-on-water-rules-it-didnt-like-nyt-102423/ -
[Paywall] Inside #PolandSpring's Hidden Attack on #WaterRules It Didn’t Like
When #Maine lawmakers tried to tighten regulations on large-scale access to water, the brand’s little-known parent company set out to rewrite the rules.
October 24, 2023Archived version:
https://archive.ph/7bI9V
#BlueTriton #BigWater #WaterIsLife #WaterCrisis #Nestle #PolandSpring -
Threat of massive drinking #WaterCrisis looms over American regions: ‘There will be parts of the U.S. that run out’
Story by Wes Stenzel, November 27, 2023
"A new study from The New York Times has revealed that substantial, consistent damage is being done to the #groundwater supply in the United States, which has massive negative implications for #agriculture, #DrinkingWater, construction, and more.
"What’s happening?
"In the past four decades, more than half of all American groundwater sites have been substantially depleted, as more water has been taken out than replenished naturally.
"Additionally, 40 percent of all locations have hit an all-time low.
"Pumping out groundwater disrupts layers of different substances below the Earth’s surface, as the ground can settle into the area where the water is taken out and take up space where it would ordinarily replenish.
"The New York Times sees a lack of regulation as one of the biggest issues regarding groundwater use. Additionally, The Times claims there is very little significant research and data tracking on a countrywide scale.
"Why is groundwater use important?
"Groundwater is essential to agriculture, and the depletion of the resource could fundamentally disrupt crop yields in the coming years in states such as Kansas, where the natural groundwater cannot support the agricultural industry anymore, according to The Times. Meanwhile, more arid states like California, Texas, and Utah are seeing widespread infrastructural damage to roads and the ground due to overpumping. Phoenix does not have enough groundwater in certain areas to construct new homes."
http://www.yahoo.com/news/threat-massive-drinking-water-crisis-050000216.html
#WaterIsLife #WaterExtraction #BlueTriton #Nestle #PolandSpring #BigWater
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@primonatura And water extraction by #BigWater (like #PolandSpring / #Nestle / #BlueTriton) only makes the arsenic levels worse!
#WaterIsLife #Maine -
Wall Street is thirsty for its next big investment opportunity: The West's vanishing water
Cibola is one place few Americans have ever heard of, which made it all the more surprising when an investment firm bought nearly 500 acres there.
By Lucy Kafanov, CNN, Mar 22, 2023
"'These companies aren't buying up plots of land because they want to farm here and be a part of the community, they're buying up land here for the water rights,' said Holly Irwin, a #Cibola resident and #LaPaz County district supervisor.
"'#Greenstone is going to make millions at the expense of what it's going to do to our communities in the future and the precedence it's going to set,' said Irwin. 'We are in the midst of an extreme drought, our communities need this water. At some point, the state has a responsibility to protect the people that are here and to protect our water and not cater to those that are buying property for the water rights to make millions off of it to benefit metropolitan areas.'"
#WaterIsLife #BigWater #Corporations #Capitalism #VanishingWater #WaterRights #WallStreet #InvestmentFirms
Read more:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/wall-street-investment-buying-land-us-west-water/1501347 -
What activism have I done lately? Well, last year, I helped to stop #BigWater's desire to double their extraction of a Maine aquifer during a drought -- by researching water table maps and presenting them at a public meeting. But beforehand, I made sure the local media knew about what was going on. One of the most effective techniques to help elicit change is to get the local media involved. Even in this day and age -- and especially in this day and age! Don't be afraid to speak your truths. Yeah, you might piss off some folks (especially if they rely on extractive industries for income), but you may find out you have allies that you didn't even know you had!
#Maine #WaterIsLife #WaterExtractionPoland Spring withdraws request to extract more water in Hollis after residents object
The request came as Hollis and the rest of Maine suffered a drought. Townspeople expressed their outrage at public meetings.
