Conserving California Desert Water

In the heart of Mojave Trails National Monument, between the stark vibrance of Mojave National Preserve and the towering yucca of Joshua Tree National Park, lurks the threat of an ill-conceived development.

Cadiz Inc., a private company, wants to build a 43-mile pipeline that would remove 16 billion gallons of precious groundwater from this arid landscape every year for 50 years. The water would be exported and sold to urban areas in Southern California. NPCA and our supporters are working with a broad coalition of advocates to keep this water where it belongs — in the desert.

The aquifer Cadiz proposes to tap supports remote springs and landscapes that Native American tribes consider sacred and supplies much needed water for a variety of desert wildlife, including bighorn sheep, endangered desert tortoises and kit foxes.

Despite grave concerns from the National Park Service and findings from the United States Geological Survey, which determined that the recharge rate for the aquifer is dramatically lower than claimed by Cadiz, the pipeline’s powerful supporters, including Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, continue to champion the project.

Though the matter will likely remain tied up in both federal and state courts, we have reason to celebrate. In August 2019, California Governor Newsom signed into law a bill that would require an environmental review for the project to proceed, a move that restores the environmental safeguards that the administration has attempted to waive.

NPCA will continue to work with supporters, allies and political champions to stop this dangerous project once and for all.

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