We can’t ignore the Salton Sea crisis in talking about Lithium Valley

Reader submissions
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It’s great to hear about all the attention and investment in Lithium Valley, but you can’t have an honest discussion about Lithium Valley without talking about the failing Colorado River system and the health and environmental crisis at the Salton Sea. In most places, you follow the money – here, in the desert, you follow the water.

The water flowing into the Imperial Valley is a finite "pie" of water, split between agricultural, municipal and industrial users. The source of nearly all this water is the Colorado River – that’s it, that’s all, there is no backup. There is no wriggle room, every drop is allocated/being used and if more is needed, it will have to come from another user. If industry needs water, then agricultural land will be fallowed, and the Salton Sea gets less runoff and more playa gets exposed.

The happy place lithium mining is supposed to take the Imperial Valley can’t be reached without a lot more water. How will this really work and who will ultimately determine who does and doesn’t get water? Who are the winners/losers? Let’s follow the water because nothing else will tell us more or shape the future more.

Dan Bliss, La Quinta

As Coachella Valley attracts new residents, how will it address water shortages?

I read with great interest Tom Coulter's March 17 story, “Almost 5,000 new homes are coming to north Palm Desert.” It seems the writer spent a great deal of time talking to homeowners in the area, others planning to move to the area and a variety of officials charged with ensuring the various projects satisfied a mix of needs.

However, I was surprised that throughout this well-researched story, there was no mention made of the water needs of future residents. In this time of drought throughout the state, and perhaps particularly in our desert, current residents are being reminded regularly to use less water, less often. So, as city officials seek to attract new residents, how can water use not be part of the story?

Jack Wells, Palm Desert

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: We can’t ignore the Salton Sea crisis in talking about Lithium Valley