| Recently, in studying the Coachella Valley, which is in | | | | area will reduce the volume available to the aquifer if it |
| the low desert between the Salton Sea and Riverside | | | | starts to fill back up again, even if that is a minor |
| CA, we noted that excess ground water usage was | | | | consideration, it was duly noted. What can the region |
| depleting the underground aquifers at an alarming rate. | | | | do now? |
| Why was this happening? Well the Coachella Valley is | | | | It looks like mandatory conservation needs to occur or |
| home to some 200 Golf Courses and the area has | | | | at least a robust public relations program to insure |
| expanded rapidly for decades on end. Although | | | | citizens take this challenge seriously. More use of gray |
| currently the real estate values were not hurt as bad | | | | water must be employed to water golf courses and |
| as other areas surrounding this region, now the | | | | landscaping. Additionally, some water must be diverted |
| Coachella Valley faces another grave issue, not | | | | to the underground aquifer; however, that water will be |
| related to the subprime lending fallout. | | | | coming from the already portioned out Colorado River, |
| Much of the area region has sunk 1-6 inches with | | | | which is shared by such areas as San Diego, San |
| some areas that have sunk over a foot. This has | | | | Bernardino, Riverside, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tucson. |
| occurred in less than nine years since it was first | | | | In any case, you can see the crisis brewing in this |
| noticed and they began keeping accurate records. | | | | region. |
| One other issue that was addressed is that the sinking | | | | |