Waterbag Campaign

Davidge withdraws waterbag applications!

December 13, 2002: After the Coastal Commission votes to oppose his waterbag scheme, Ric Davidge announces that he is withdrawing his applications to bag water from the Gualala and Albion Rivers.

For information about the campaign that stopped Davidge, and about his new proposal to export water from the Mad River, see below.

Gualala River estuary in winter
photo courtesy of P.T. Nunn, 2002

Overview

Alaska Water Exports filed applications with the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to extract billions of gallons of fresh water annually from the Gualala and Albion Rivers. They wanted to sell the water to cities in southern California.

They planned to trench and lay pipe through the estuary of each river, to a point above the saltwater intrusion zone. They would have pumped fresh water into giant bags tethered offshore, and towed the bags to southern California.

Friends of the Gualala River believed that this plan would have had dire consequences for the estuaries and for the local economy. We protested vigorously, and worked with a large coalition of environmental and public interest groups to stop the waterbag scheme.

In the face of mounting opposition from local citizens and elected officials, Alaska Water Exports withdrew their applications. For now, the Gualala and Albion Rivers are safe from the waterbag scheme.

Alaska Water Exports, renamed to "Aqueous Corp.", has announced that it is now targeting the Mad River instead.

News

1/07/03 Davidge targets the Mad River
Alaska Water Exports, renamed to "Aqueous Corp.", has announced that it is now targeting the Mad River.

12/13/02 Water mogul packs his bags
After the Coastal Commission votes to oppose his waterbag scheme, Ric Davidge announces that he is withdrawing his applications.

12/13/02 The California Coastal Commission
votes unanimously to file a protest against the waterbags.
[see Press packet with extensive links to waterbag info]

11/13/02 Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) protests Gualala River water exportation.

10/28/02 Revised notices required
Due to the applicant's failure to publish the original notices in local newspapers within the required time period, the SWRCB announced that they will issue revised notices for the waterbag applications.

Other news:

Governor Davis signs Assembly Bill 858

Status update on the waterbag scheme

Sierra Club: Gualala & Albion defeat the waterbags

Sierra Club Great Coastal Places: Gualala & Albion

The Independent Coast Observer broke the waterbag story in their January 18, 2002 issue. You can find copies of some of their articles on our Press page, along with links to many other newpapers:

Press Articles

Protests

Here is some of the information we used in preparing protests.

Commentary

Protecting Public Rivers from the Corporate Grab-Bag An article summarizing the waterbag campaign, by Ursula Jones (in "Defend the Global Commons," Public Citizen's Water for All Campaign newsletter, January 2004, page 4, 258KB .pdf file). new 2/22/04
"Ric Davidge's fantasy"
"Owning the River" (ICO editorial)
Fred Euphrat's commentary on KQED
Water-grab threatens Californians' control of water

Information

Resolutions

Letters to...

Questions

Links

Friends of the Gualala River needs all the help you can give. Please join us and send your tax-deductible contributions to:

Friends of the Gualala River
P.O. Box 1543
Gualala, CA 95445