HOPE - Pebble Beach Company's Fake Water

HOPE Helping Our Peninsula's Environment
Box 1495, Carmel, CA 93921 Info(at)1hope.org
831/624-6500 www.1hope.org

Water District Board Thursday, May 2, 2002

Re: Pebble Beach Company (PBC) Water Scheme

Dear Directors,

Because of Sunday's editorial on this subject we would like to clear a few things up.

FICTITIOUS WATER RIGHTS

The Pebble Beach Company 360 acre foot Water "Entitlement" was created from thin air.

There is no dispute that all water rights must be adjudicated by the State Water Board and that the PBC-Water District Water "Entitlement" was never adjudicated.

This means the Water District gave away water rights to PBC that it didn't own.

PBC must recognize they do not own valid rights to 360 acre feet of water.

TREAT ALL RECYCLED WATER OR JUST GREENS?

Why should peninsula residents have to build and pay for a $21 million dollar treatment plant so the golf course greens can glow even greener? Especially when two thirds of the recycled water doesn't need extra treatment.

That's Pebble Beach Company's responsibility.

Pebble Beach Company has two alternative options:

Use a salt tolerant grass or
Use small onsite treatment systems to treat only the small amount of recycled water needed just by the greens.

We strongly suggest Pebble Beach Company must -

Recognize they own no valid rights to 360 acre feet of water.
Change over to drought tolerant and salt tolerant grasses.
Wholly pay for the extra water treatment their greens want (not need).

WATER CONSERVATION IGNORED

What water conservation methods are all PBC's golf courses using?

Does PBC compact their soil? (No. Compacting alone has reduced water use by as much as 49%.)
Do PBC golf courses get watered only when needed - or on a clock schedule? (Hint Spanish Bay and PBC operate on a clock causing shallow rooting and increases water need.)
Does PBC water deep and infrequently? (No.)
Did PBC lower their mowing height? (No.)
Does PBC use dull mowing blades? (Not on purpose.)
Did PBC reduce fertilizer use to save water? (No.)

All these methods significantly reduce water use according to the US Golf Association.

Why do responsible Peninsula resident have to suffer through droughts and rationing while Pebble Beach Company wastes huge amounts of water every day and don't lift a finger to help us? (well perhaps they are raising one finger...)

Sincerely,

David Dilworth, Acting Secretary a">Sincerely,

David Dilworth, Acting Secretary