As required in the preliminary permit issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, that they are considering alternatives to using the alkaline water of the lake. Click here to view document

This can only mean that they are considering using groundwater to fill and maintain the 2000 acre/ft reservoirs (652 million gallons of water) mentioned in the project proposal.

There is a moratorium on new commercial well drilling in this area due to steadily decreasing water pressure in the artesian springs that provide the majority of water for irrigation, the Wildlife Area and ultimately Summer Lake itself. Lowering the groundwater level in the valley will ultimately lower the water level in the lake. We do not consider this to be an acceptable alternative.