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Luxury Ranch Sparks Eco-Backlash in Coachella Valley
5 Jan
Summary
- Luxury development proposal faces strong opposition from local families.
- Project could consume 570 million gallons of water annually.
- Riverside County supervisors approved the controversial project in December.
A luxury development proposal, the Thermal Ranch Club, has drawn significant opposition from residents in the Eastern Coachella Valley, California. This project, slated for over 600 acres, promises affluent amenities but is predicted to negatively impact the local community and environment.
Critics argue that the development could lead to unchecked air and soil pollution due to inadequate regulations on manure and dust. Furthermore, the project's projected annual water demand of 570 million gallons poses a considerable threat to the Colorado River, a critical water source for the region.
Despite these concerns, Riverside County supervisors gave the proposal the green light in December. While county officials believe they have mitigation plans, local residents fear the development will burden existing communities without providing economic benefits and will exacerbate environmental issues like dust storms and wildfires.
