WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE...?

by Tom Appelbaum

As Jeanne and I were returning from The Summit and our recent July 4th mini-trip, westward through the 50 or so miles of dense smoke between there and Auburn (with an emphasis on burn), we couldn't help discussing the impact of the proposed Foster-Syme development with regards to the possibility of effectively fighting a fire in and around Soda Springs. 

No matter what the cause, the ability to fight and eventually contain a fire in the Sierra Nevada mountains is dependent on many things, not the least of which is the availability of water.  That resource is one of the main topics of debate whenever the Royal Gorge project is discussed, and we would hope that this extended fire season, in conjunction with the projected changes in the weather patterns of the Sierra Nevada range, would bring to light the need to take most seriously the amount of water needed to support any and all growth at The Summit, let alone this oversized (our opinion) project as it is currently proposed.  Has anyone at the public or private level factored in the very real possibility of fire?  Have the appropriate agencies chimed in about what it would take to protect such a large community as would exist if the plan as proposed were to be implemented?  Is their enough water to support any and all contingencies?  We're kinda thinkin', no.

The California Department of Water Resources has recently created a program, an Integrated Regional Water Management Plan, or IRWMP.  This is a "...non-regulatory process...intended to promote regional water management to ensure sustainable water uses, reliable water supplies, better water quality, environmental stewardship, efficient urban development... and a strong economy."  These IRWMP's would eventually be "used in the State Water Plan and become the regional basis for its implementation."   The Mono Lake Committee has lately been involved in using this tool to "address water issues, coordinate projects across jurisdictional boundaries, and attract funding...".  The MLC has done an amazing job saving Mono Lake.  Perhaps all the groups interested in what might happen up at The Summit could participate in an IRWMP to figure out just how large any new development should be before any plans are submitted, and we could indeed Save the Summit, just like the bumper sticker says...! 

As we've done with all of our writing , we'll end this piece with a request to Foster-Syme to please scale down your development; invest in the community by respecting the wishes of the majority; donate, or sell at an acceptable profit, Van Norden meadow and other parts of your holdings to one of the several land trusts that exist to help conserve special areas in the Sierra Nevada range; and set an example for the rest of the large property owners in California of how to truly create a conservation community.  The opportunity is right there in front of you, as long as it doesn't go up in smoke. 

Tom and Jeanne Appelbaum