Sand and Gravel: Our Newest Import
California has a vast infrastructure system that is in desperate need of repair. The state is also starved for affordable housing for its ever-growing population. Moreover, we need increased water supplies to satiate the thirst of our businesses, homes, agriculture and environment. However, the question must be posed: Are Californians willing to take responsibility and make the necessary trade-offs that are essential to fit their desired lifestyles?
For example: Cement, a material we are all familiar with, a material that is vital to the infrastructure upon which our modern day society has been erected, is made up of two primary ingredients: sand and gravel. These two substances are irreplaceable in the production of cement, which is used for home foundations, streets, sidewalks, parking lots, dams, irrigation canals, and array of other needs that are vital to the infrastructure of our state. The Sacramento Bee recently reported, "California sits atop an estimated 81 billion tons, enough to last 350 years – at current rates of consumption – without importing one truckload." However, despite our state’s wealth in this natural resource, it appears that we are running low on sites where permitted mining of this resource will be allowed due to social, environmental and economic factors. The mining of sand and gravel
oftentimes is a dirty job. It creates dust, noise and a scarred landscape, making it unpopular to neighboring residents. The environmental community complains of the damage to the landscape and fish populations. Historically these operations occurred off the beaten path. But today, as the state has grown, neighborhoods have encroached on these operations. Further, as old mining sites are exhausted, new sites to mine these resources are not readily ascertainable. Attempts to mine new sources are often met with expensive and timely opposition. As a result, sand and gravel are now being mined and imported at an increased rate from Mexico and Canada, shifting the impacts associated with this process to other countries, increasing the cost of vital infrastructure to California, and putting mining companies out of business.
Close to home, a recent tour of the Tisdale Weir showed large amounts of sand that are compromising the water carrying capacity of our flood control system. This sand needs to be removed from the weir to ensure the viability of our flood control system to protect the homes and ranches in the Sacramento Valley. However, there are apparently no funds available for this maintenance. Possibly, a cooperative solution would be to contract out for the removal of this sand, a win-win solution that would offset the costs associated with this maintenance.
M & T Ranch, a large agricultural operation in Butte County, recently removed large amounts of gravel as a temporary measure to protect their diversion and fish screen on the Sacramento River. Now, state funds have been granted to study a permanent fix to protect this facility, as well as water facilities owned by the City of Chico. When asked what became of this gravel, it was discovered that a state agency required that they receive the gravel for environmental purposes, no mining permit would be granted. The permitting of the mining of this gravel surely could have offset the costs associated with this project, saving the State the expense of this project, protecting the M & T and Chico water facilities, and providing a needed natural resource for the infrastructure in this state.
Many of the citizens of California demand a particular lifestyle, but are they willing to take responsibility for those choices? Homes are made from wood, which comes from trees. Food and fiber is grown on farms with water. Cement comes from sand and gravel that must be mined. These statements seem elementary to most readers I’m sure. However, these realities are oftentimes ignored by individuals when they champion environmental and social causes that ignore the consequences and repercussions associated with their everyday demands and desires. Just a reminder to those who may have forgotten.
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