Candidate for
Board Member; Marina Coast Water District; Long Term

We Marina residents face significant new challenges regarding the development of the former Fort Ord. As development proceeds, we must be mindful of how Marina's water allocation is used. This includes advising the City Council of the full effect, on our water allocation, of increased development.

Because of new laws that took effect in 2003, the Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) must advise the Marina City Council -- and other local governmental bodies asserting jurisdiction over the former Fort Ord service area -- of the estimated water use of developments of more than 500 homes. Because the water usage estimated by our scientists and engineers suggested that the Marina Heights development might not leave enough water for other developments -- like the mixed-use University Villages -- the MCWD Board expressed our concern to the City Council. Some people then accused us of presuming to act like a land-use jurisdiction -- which we are not. The MCWD has no say about whether a development may proceed, or under what conditions. However, this controversy has thankfully shown that I and Board members Scholl, Moore, and O'Brien care deeply about warning of the true water-use consequences of certain types of developments.

We do not have an unlimited water supply. A massive desalination plant in Moss Landing -- with its estimated $160 Million price tag -- is not a panacea. Aside from the huge capital costs of such a plant, desalinated water costs two to three times what it costs to pump water out of the groundwater aquifer. Desalination plants use very large amounts of electricity, which is ultimately generated from fossil fuels. And, the two-to-three-times figure assumes no rise in fossil-fuel energy costs. Who will pay those higher water costs?

I will work to continue to provide you with good-quality water at the best possible price, while also working to conserve our limited groundwater resources.