Friends of Gualala River Protecting the Gualala River watershed and the species living within it
September, 2000
Ric Davidge, president of Alaska Water Exports (AWE), files applications with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to extract large quantities of fresh water from the Gualala and Albion Rivers (applications #31194 and #31195, respectively).
March, 2001
The SWRCB apparently requested additional information, because Davidge submits more in March, 2001.
January, 2002
Reporter Julie Verran of the Independent Coast Observer breaks the story in the ICO‘s January 18th issue. Alaskan firm targets water from Gualala, Albion Rivers
February, 2002
The public, after laughing at the apparently ridiculous idea of dragging giant plastic bags hundreds of miles through the stormy Pacific Ocean, recognizes the seriousness of the AWE proposal, and begins to organize. Water bag scheme provokes intense reaction
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors passes a resolution opposing the waterbag scheme. Mendocino County fights water bag export proposals
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors also passes a resolution opposing the waterbag scheme.
March, 2002
Friends of the Gualala River (FoGR) begins a series of community meetings to raise awareness of the issues surrounding the waterbag scheme.
Speakers in March include Nancy Price from the Alliance for Democracy, Frank Arundel, an environmental activist working to stop Cadiz Inc’s proposed Mojave watergrab, and Peter Baye, a local environmental scientist. Friends of Gualala River host water policy experts
Ric Davidge (AWE) and Ed Anton (acting head of the State Division of Water Rights) speak at the Sea Ranch Forum to an audience of about 300. Members of the audience submit over 100 questions to Mr. Davidge, who promises to answer every question. Water mogul Davidge makes local pitch
The Redwood Coast Chamber of Commerce passes a resolution opposing the waterbag scheme.
April, 2002
The Independent Coast Observer takes an editorial stand against the waterbags. Defend our rivers
Deciding that the applications are still incomplete, the SWRCB requests more information from Alaska Water Exports, and sets a deadline of July 1, 2002 to complete the applications.
At our monthly meeting, Jim Jordan describes Davidge’s applications, Tom Cochrane discusses the hydrology of the Gualala River, and Peter Baye explains the regulatory process.
May, 2002
Mr. Davidge replies to the questions submitted at the Sea Ranch Forum, Water mogul Davidge answers water bag questions, but local residents are not convinced. Davidge’s response unpersuasive
Fred Euphrat, a forester and hydrologist with a doctorate in watershed management from UC Berkeley, and Jamie Dunn, a leader of the Blue Planet Project of the Council of Canadians speak at a public forum organized by FoGR.
June, 2002
Alaska Water Exports files additional information with the SWRCB before their deadline. The SWRCB apparently now considers the applications complete. Davidge meets map deadline
Dan Wickham, Board President of Friends of the Russian River speaks about the River Keepers program, and Tom Cochrane, President of FoGR, discusses water as the newest commodity transforming the American economy at FoGR’s monthly meeting.
The Gualala River Watershed Council sends a letter to the SWRCB expressing their concerns about potential environmental impacts of the waterbag scheme.
July, 2002
The staff of the SWRCB reviews the applications during the month of July. They expect to send out public notices “sometime in August”.
Jane Kelly, Director of Public Citizen’s California office, leads a strategy session on how to organize the public campaign against the waterbag scheme.
August, 2002
The SWRCB pushes back their target date for releasing the public notices to September.
Assembly Member Pat Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) launches a campaign against the waterbag proposal. Her Assembly Bill 858 would require a study of the impact of reduced water flows on salmon and steelhead before permits could be granted. Wiggins hits water bag export proposal
Susan Brandt-Hawley, a northern California environmental lawyer, kicks off the protest campaign at FoGR’s August meeting.
September, 2002
The SWRCB releases public notices (Albion, Gualala) on Friday the 13th, starting a 60-day public protest period. Unfortunately, they include the wrong maps with the printed notices, and publish an incorrect address for Alaska Water Exports.
Two weeks later Governor Gray Davis signs AB 858, further solidifying the opposition to the waterbag scheme. While we can not rely on this bill alone to stop the waterbags, it is a step in the right direction. Can AB 858 stop the waterbags?
October, 2002
The SWRCB sends out a clarification of several errors contained in the original notices.
Local environmental groups organize dozens of meetings on the North Coast to mobilize residents to file protests with the SWRCB. Clock running on water bag protests
Friends of the Gualala River, as part of a coalition of environmental and public interest citizens groups, sends a letter to the SWRCB urging them to withdraw the public notices because of numerous deficiencies. Letter to the SWRCB
The SWRCB announces that they will issue revised notices for the waterbag applications, due to the applicant’s failure to publish the original notices in local newspapers within the designated time period. New public notices required
The Gualala Municipal Advisory Council votes unanimously to oppose the proposed water diversion by Alaska Water Exports and urges the SWRCB to deny the permit for diversion of water from the Gualala River. Gualala council pans water bags
November, 2002
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) sends a letter to the SWRCB protesting the application by an internationally funded firm to withdraw river from the Gualala River. Woolsey Protests Gualala Water Export
Staff of the California Coastal Commission draft protests to file with the SWRCB, but the Commission postpones consideration until December. Coast panel ducks water bags
December, 2002
The California Coastal Commission votes unanimously to file protests against Alaska Water Exports’ proposed diversion of water from the Albion and Gualala Rivers. Water mogul packs his bags
Within hours of the Commission’s vote, Davidge announces that he is withdrawing his applications. This battle to protect the Albion and Gualala Rivers from waterbags is over — the people of California won!
Having abandoned his attempt to bag water from the Albion and Gualala Rivers, Davidge turns his attention to the Mad River in Humboldt County.
