Letter Regarding Coral Mountain Resort Draft EIR

Attention: Nicole Sauviat Criste,

Consulting Planner

City of La Quinta 

78-495 Calle Tampico 

La Quinta, CA 92253

Via: consultingplanner@laquinta.gov

Subject: Comments on Coral Mountain Resort Draft EIR SCH #2021020310

Dear Ms. Sauviat Criste,

CactusToCloud values the opportunity to submit comments for the project above referenced, and we respectfully request you please share our comments with the La Quinta City Council. CactusToCloud is a group of desert advocates collaborating on community science and environmental education projects in the Coachella Valley, and our goal is to celebrate and protect our desert home. We represent diverse backgrounds and life experiences, and we are all UCR-Palm Desert California Naturalists and Climate Stewards. As it happens, we are also all homeowners in the City of La Quinta.

As concerned La Quinta residents, and given our training and time spent in our community, we consider it imperative that we, CactusToCloud, oppose this project, and we ask that the DEIR be revised to address the concerns contained in this letter, and other letters of concerned residents and conservation organizations. 

This project threatens to negatively impact the existing cultural, ecological, and recreational features in this area. Coral Mountain itself is a cultural and historically rich space, where Native American petroglyphs, intact honey mesquite hummocks, and the ancient Lake Cahuilla Shoreline are visible and accessible to our community. We are concerned irresponsible development of this area would damage these irreplaceable assets in our beautiful city, and that access to public lands will be limited.

It is common knowledge that we are in the middle of one of the worst droughts in the history of our state. The use of our ever-diminishing water resources to fill and maintain a 20-acre basin would be short-sighted and does not consider reduced water availability during an unprecedented drought, or uncertain future conditions due to a changing climate. We fear the DEIR has not properly addressed this, and if this project is approved our community risks water shortages and similar water restrictions to those now in effect in other parts of our state. California’s water board recently unanimously approved emergency regulations to temporarily stop thousands of landowners, residents and farmers alike, from using water from the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta watershed. Consumers are now living with a 55 gallon per person per day allowance, and face penalties up to $1000 per day, plus $2500 per acre-foot, for illegally diverting water. Only through responsible use of water, both imported and from our underground aquifer, can we avoid similar restrictions in La Quinta.

While we oppose this specific project as presented, we support the responsible development of this site in general. Indeed, smart development around Coral Mountain has the potential to fulfill important community needs such as affordable housing, equitable access to public lands, and climate resilience planning (as required of city governments by SB 379). Any development should incorporate resilience best practices, such as community input and consideration of environmental justice, sustainable water use, native plant landscaping, and outdoor recreational access to Coral Mountain, Boo Hoff Trail, and the Santa Rosa Wilderness. 

Instead of a surf park which is out of character with our desert, a development that not only preserves but enhances the natural and cultural heritage of our City would be an asset to the community. The CactusToCloud team is ready and interested in working with the City and developers to assist in the implementation of these features, and working together to build a resilient and inclusive community for people and wild plants and animals to thrive in the Coachella Valley.

Thank you for your time and consideration, 

CactusToCloud Institute

Sendy Barrows 

Colin Barrows

Tracy Bartlett 

Elizabeth Ogren Erickson