Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Nestlé Is Pumping Water From A National Forest On An Expired Permit
Nestlé was allowed to pump 28.3 million gallons of groundwater from San Bernardino National Forest last year, and it was done with a permit that expired in 1988.
Three environmental groups—Center for Biological Diversity, the Story of Stuff Project and the Courage Campaign Institute—have sued the U.S. Forest Service for allowing the company to continue to pump water without a valid permit. According to The Desert Sun, the lawsuit argues that the activity threatens natural habitats along the Strawberry Creek for protected and threatened species such as mountain yellow-legged frogs and California spotted owls.
"We want better management of public lands," said Rachel Doughty, an environmental lawyer representing the Courage Campaign Institute and the Story of Stuff Project. "Right now, it really feels like the primary emphasis is letting Nestlé take water. They've delayed the permit review for years and years and years, and let them continue to operate without a permit."
Last year, Nestlé pumped 28.3 million gallons of water from their 12 wells in Strawberry Canyon, down from 51.5 million gallons the year before, and 86.7 million gallons the year before that.
Support for LAist comes from
The lawsuit comes in the wake of a Desert Sun investigation that revealed that thousands of "special use" permits issued by the Forest Service in California have expired, including over 600 permits specifically for water. Nestlé, who bottles the water under their Arrowhead brand, is one of the holders of these permits.
In May, Nestlé Water's CEO Tim Brown came under fire when he said he wanted to "increase" their bottling operations in the state.
"Until the impact of Nestlé's operation is properly reviewed, the Forest Service must turn off the spigot," Michael O'Heaney, executive director of the Story of Stuff Project, said according to the L.A. Times.
Further investigation by the Desert Sun revealed that Nestlé and other water bottling companies are extracting water with little oversight. No agency overseeing the operations actually tracks exactly how many millions of gallons of water are being taken every year. Records also show that the permits often expire with little to no action taken by the Forest Service due to a lack of resources.
Although Nestlé's permit expired over 25 years ago, the company has been allowed to continue under an agreement with the Forest Service in which former forest manager Gene Zimmerman wrote, "I have allowed Arrowhead's occupancy of National Forest land to continue until the permit can be re-issued, based on its continued adherence to the terms of that permit, and its payment of the required annual fee." That annual fee is $534, and the agency collects no money based on the water extracted.
The Forest Service says that Nestlé's permit will continue to be allowed pending a full review. "We continue to operate with that permit that does remain in full force and effect," said Nestlé, through a spokesperson. The company contends that they are not harming the environment and that the over 700 million gallons of water their five bottling plants across the state uses is a mere fraction of California's water supply.
Here's a video by the Story of Stuff Project about Nestlé's operations in the San Bernardino National Forest:
Support for LAist comes from
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist