| Friend, The Colorado River is the drinking source for 40 million people living in seven states -- and it’s at historically low levels.(1) So why are we allowing just 20 wealthy agribusinesses in the Imperial Valley to use 387 billion gallons a year to feed livestock and irrigate crops they export overseas?!(2) It's true. These giant farms have been taking more than 1 out of every 7 drops of water used from the Colorado River to grow boutique crops for the Middle East and other places, and every day Californians have paid the price.(3) Their water rights need to be revoked, now. Tell the U.S. Forest Service: Stop the Imperial Valley water theft!
The stakes in California's water crisis have never been higher. As climate change accelerates, weather patterns become ever more extreme, yielding soaring temperatures, stronger storms, and dryer droughts.(4) Under these conditions, reliable access to drinking water could not be more important. But after decades of overuse and waning supply, the very survival of the Colorado River system is now in jeopardy. If its decline continues, 40 million people in the West could face a water crisis.(5) The current rules around access to the Colorado River's dwindling supply date back more than a century, to a dramatically different world. Some of them purposely cut off supplies to people of color.(6) The end result is that a small number of families have consolidated their water claims -- to the detriment of most of the Imperial Valley's 180,000 residents. And it's not like these businesses are supporting Californians -- they're growing alfalfa for Saudi Arabia and feeding cows to ship overseas. California can't afford to let 20 farming dynasties slurp up 387 billion gallons of water desperately needed by local communities, and Courage California is demanding action now. The U.S. Forest Service should intervene on behalf of California residents whose lives depend on the Colorado River. Sign our petition to stop the Imperial Valley water theft! Yours in the fight for our water, –Irene, Annie, Angela, Isidra, Mario, Marvin, Alyssa Jen, and Lindsay (the Courage team)
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