Appeal filed against desalination ruling
Michael Burge
San Diego Union-Tribune
12/23/2009
CARLSBAD — Environmental groups that oppose an ocean-water desalination plant in Carlsbad have appealed a San Diego Superior Court ruling that favors plant development.
San Diego Coastkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation filed an appeal this month of a November ruling that allows developer Poseidon Resources to build the 50 million-gallon-a-day plant on the south shore of Agua Hedionda Lagoon.
The lawsuit challenges a lease granted for plant development by the California State Lands Commission, which has jurisdiction over state tidelands.
Coastkeeper attorney Gabriel Solmer said the groups don’t oppose ocean-water desalination, but contend the Poseidon plant is harmful to fish and animals that live in nearby ocean waters.
