WRITTEN
PUBLIC
COMMENTS
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
SPECIAL MEETING
FEBRUARY 11, 2026
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - FEBRUARY 11, 2026 - COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM RESIDENT ALENDA CALLIMANIS
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - WATER USAGE IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY February 11, 2026
Items not on the Agenda
As we look at more development across La Quinta and across Vista Santa Rosa, I wanted to highlight a new report that just came out regarding the lowest snowfall in years in the Mountains that feed the Colorado River. The Colorado River irrigates 80% of the farmland that borders the River. 20% serves the communities, including housing and including non-essential water use like Golf Courses, we have more than enough in the Coachella Valley, and Wave Parks. We have another Wave Park approved for Vista Santa Rosa.
For those people who don't remember, Coachella Valley Water District was in a crisis 15 - 20 years ago when they were pumping out more water in the aquifer than was coming in and the aquifer levels became dangerously low. It took significant water directly from the Colorado River to bring up the water levels in the aquifer. The negotiations are now underway to carve up the Colorado River Water rights. If we get significantly less of the allocation, we again will be pumping out more water than we are taking in.
We need to take seriously our water usage for new developments and amenities over the next few years. We have no source of water accept a dwindling aquifer and the dwindling Colorado River. We need to look to the future, not just today, to make sure we don't run out of our precious water resource. We would no longer be attractive for new development and new investment.
Alena Callimanis,