Giant CA Desert Surf Park 'Irresponsible Waste Of Water': Critics

LA QUINTA, CA — "Every day I see articles about the increasing drought urgency. Here in the west, water has become a scarce resource that needs to be thoughtfully allocated. Now I read that La Quinta is considering a 'wave basin' project. What part of adding 600 residential units, 150 hotel units and a 16.6-acre wave pool in the desert during a mega-drought is responsible use? People argue 'it’s good for the economy.' There will be no economy if we run out of water. Water is a precious, shared resource. Who gives La Quinta the right to plan this development that will impact so many water users? It is reckless, irresponsible and imprudent. The precious water needed for this project belongs to everyone, not just the city of La Quinta." — Laura Clarke, Rancho Mirage

Clarke's words were provided to the La Quinta City Council ahead of Tuesday night's joint meeting of the council and the city's planning commission to discuss the $1 billion proposed Coral Mountain Resort.

The project is touted as a first-of-its-kind resort and recreational experience built around a surfing basin created by Kelly Slater Wave Company. The end result would be a master-planned resort community featuring a hotel, single-family residences, neighborhood and resort commercial development, and a nearly 17-acre wave pool for surfing.

Turnout was high for Tuesday's meeting, and so was criticism of the project by Coachella Valley residents. Most public commenters shared Clarke's sentiments.

Anne O'Brien of La Quinta provided her thoughts in writing to the city.

"I feel given the severe drought we are facing in California is not an appropriate backdrop for a thirsty surf park," she wrote. "It appears that the people who support this project are utterly tone-deaf to the majority of residents who are concerned about saving water at the urging of our state and local government."

At build-out, Coral Mountain Resort would use approximately 958.63 acre-feet of water — or 312,370,490 gallons — per year based on the residential indoor demand, non-residential indoor demand, and outdoor demands, according to city documents.

Proponents say the project could drive up to $2.2 million in annual city revenue and attract a younger generation to the desert.

John Gamlin, president of the Coral Mountain Wave Development, believes Coachella Valley recreation is changing.

"Younger people, millennials and Generation Z are not playing golf and so there's this sea change going on in demographics," he told KESQ.

To-date, Coral Mountain Wave Development has submitted several applications for the project, including zoning changes. The city undertook a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the project. With two exceptions, all environmental impacts from the project could be reduced to "less than significant levels" with the implementation of mitigation measures, according to the document.

Aesthetics and greenhouse gas emissions remain "significant and unavoidable" impacts of the project and there are no feasible mitigation measures to reduce them to less than significant levels, according to the document.

The public is staying tuned. No action was taken during Tuesday's meeting. The La Quinta City Council will consider during a future public hearing whether the project's benefits outweigh its significant impacts on the environment. The city is currently reviewing public comments submitted in response to the Environmental Impact Report and is preparing responses. The "Final EIR/Response to Comments" will be distributed to the Planning Commission, City Council, commenters and the public.