David Smith
Siskiyou Daily News

MCCLOUD - Nestle Waters will engage the McCloud community and conduct impact studies before they move forward, according to a recent press release from Nestle Waters North America (NWNA).

In the release, Nestle project manager Dave Palais said, 'Every siting project is unique and NWNA is always seeking new ways to improve our siting process and become a better neighbor. We are extremely appreciative of the strong support over the years we have received from members of the McCloud community, elected officials and residents throughout Siskiyou County and of the feedback we have heard from other stakeholders on this project.

'As we continue with the contract, siting and permitting process, we look forward to engaging in public and productive dialogue with the McCloud Community Services District, the County, members of the McCloud community and other interested parties.'

According to the release, NWNA will have an independent review team complete the broad scientific studies that groups opposed to the original plan have insisted need to be done before a plant is built.

There will be studies of air and water quality, traffic conditions, hazardous materials and an economic impact study, the release said. The company will also study the potential impact of climate change on the water supply and NWNA has also agreed to do a two-to-three year study of the hydrology and biology of Squaw Valley Creek.

Curtis Knight of California Trout said that the multi-year study was 'One thing that we wanted after the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in July 2006.'

California Trout is one of the member groups of the Protect Our Waters Coalition (POW), a group that helped lead the fight against NWNA's initially planned project in McCloud on the basis that not enough had been done to adequately address the environmental effects of the project.

Knight explained that trying to evaluate the environmental impact without any past data to compare it to would be almost impossible.

'We don't know anything about Squaw Valley Creek,' Knight said, emphasizing the need for the comprehensive two-to-three year baseline study that NWNA has now agreed to do.

Knight said that the study will monitor water level, fish population, stream flow, water temperature, water quality and water chemistry, along with other biological factors like insect populations and erosion data. He also said that there will be an experiment done to study the effects of flow reduction on the creek.

'It will give a good snapshot of habitat conditions,' Knight said of the study. He added, 'This is pretty standard stuff for this kind of thing.'

Knight also stated that it is important to do the study over an extended period of time in order to determine which changes are caused by natural variability and which are caused by humans.

'We're extremely encouraged that Nestle is taking this step,' Knight said.

The NWNA release also noted that the company wishes to start new contract negotiations with the McCloud Community Services District and will also 'permanently eliminate the possible use of groundwater wells in connection with this proposed project in a legally enforceable manner.'

The release stated that public feedback from yet-to-be scheduled meetings will be used for several purposes, including:

  To help shape the details of NWNA's proposed facility in McCloud;

  To help develop a draft EIR on the project; and

  To inform the creation of a new contract with the McCloud Community Services District.

Palais also said in the release, 'As we continue with the siting and permitting process, we look forward to engaging in public and transparent dialogue with the McCloud Community Services District, the County, members of the McCloud community and other interested parties.'