“Desalt”

Monterey Herald, August 20, 2025

Thank you for last week’s article covering the CPUC ruling. The following statement, however, paints an incorrect picture: “Cal Am’s estimates are supported by business interests, including the Monterey County Farm Bureau, the Monterey County Real Estate Association, and the Monterey County Hospitality Association.”

In truth, Cal Am’s estimates are also widely supported by environmental organizations. The Carmel River Steelhead Association, NOAA, and the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy all submitted letters in support of the CPUC estimates. Stating just the business interests colors the discussion inappropriately as corporate versus public interest. This is incorrect.

Why? We are groups of biologists, ecologists, and marine scientists who know that the CPUC supply and demand numbers support the needed water flows in the Carmel River and the human and wildlife communities that depend on us for water. The challenge is that Public Water now has conflated lower water numbers with creating a public water system and getting rid of Cal Am. As one of our volunteer biologists said, “I want public water, but I also know that this region needs a desalination plant to ensure a permanent water solution.”  We’ve all heard of detractors of the CPUC report, including water agency engineers and politicians such as our senator, say things like “if the numbers aren’t right, we can always go back to over-pumping the Carmel River.”

That is not a viable long-term strategy as a healthy watershed is critical for stopping the cycle of drought – wildfire – flood.

Thank you for ensuring that future reporting includes the support of the environmental community in discussing this issue.

— Elise Weiland, executive director, Carmel River Watershed Conservancy