Habitat fragmentation is one of the biggest impacts of a geothermal industrial development because of the miles of pipelines which carry the 450Fahrenheit geothermal fluids, the new 24 mile transmission line corridor, sump ponds, 12-17 well pad sites for producing and injection geothermal fluids, and new roads. Air quality suffers as cooling towers emit the stinky and toxic hydrogen sulfide [up to 18 tons per year for each 49 megawatts] as well as mercury, arsenic, and boron. Plants and animals suffer, many of which are on the threatened or endangered list. Siskiyou County's tallest building would be in our National Forest: the 9-10 story high power plant facility with all the associated industrial intrusions of increased lighting, noise, and traffic! Most critical, is the water demand by geothermal power plants and the potential to contaminate the source of the largest spring system in all of California. Sounds more like an oil operation, surely this can't be considered "green".

A report published in February 2002 by the California Wilderness Coalition listed the Medicine Lake Highlands as one of California's Ten Most Threatened Wild Places.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

The impacts on groundwater and on Medicine Lake itself, which could result from pumping geothermal fluid in and out of the earth, are highly uncertain. This same activity could risk contaminating California's largest fresh water spring system, the Fall River Springs, which draws from the Highlands huge aquifer and feeds into the Sacramento River and the California Aqueduct. Mining the brine at the Highlands would require up to 80 wells during the 45-year life span of the two plants. Each well would take 25-90 days of 24-hour noisy drilling, boring down 9,000 to 10,000 feet. Miles of aboveground, high-pressure pipelines would carry the 400-degree Fahrenheit water to the power plant.

These nine- to ten-story power plants would be the tallest buildings in rural Siskiyou County. Sump ponds with a capacity of 500,000 to 1 million gallons would hold the spent geothermal fluids before they are reinjected. Hydrogen sulfide emissions from the two projects would rise to dangerous levels of 38 tons per year, especially within the Caldera which is prone to thermal inversions.

The proposed route for the transmission line cuts through the Mount Hoffman Roadless Area. Parts of the proposed projects are located within Late Successional Reserves. Large, old trees would be cut to clear paths for the transmission lines, pipelines, well fields and power plants. Habitat for the pine marten, fisher, northern spotted owl and other species dependent on late successional forests would be adversely affected. Recreational use in the Medicine Lake Highlands is estimated at 40,000 visits per year and would be severely impacted.

WHAT IS AT STAKE?

Geothermal assaults on the Medicine Lake Highlands raise probing questions about what corporate power is doing in the name of buzzwords like the "energy crisis," "war on terrorism," "economic stimulus," and "free trade." Corporate actions have the potential to greatly affect quality of life and civil liberties.

We live in a beautiful environment where wilderness offers us a place of healing, renewal and reconnection with life. After September 11th, more than ever, we need these places of refuge and inspiration. The Medicine Lake Highlands, an integral part of the Mount Shasta area, is now under industrial pressures to develop. It has been the source of intense lobbying by Calpine in the White House, Department of the Interior, and California Energy Commission, using advantages of access, financial resources and political influence that are the privilege of corporations.

Struggles are like waves that have high and low points, but something on a deeper level calls us into this service of love. We are at the crossroads to choose how we will imprint our planet in this 21st century. This is the time to influence that imprint. Not everyone needs to be on the front lines, but everyone's involvement makes a difference-because it is in our unity and connection with life that the people's power lies.

As far back as the 19th century, Abraham Lincoln warned: "Corporations have been enthroned. An era of corruption in high places will follow and the money power will endeavor to prolong its reign by working on the prejudices of the people, until wealth is aggregated in a few hands, and the republic is destroyed." Former President Dwight Eisenhower also warned us to "beware of the military-industrial complex."

We ask your help to resist corporate invasion of these sacred lands, through your prayers, financial contributions, phone calls and letters.

PLEASE DO YOUR PART BY CONTRIBUTING TO THE SAVE MEDICINE LAKE HIGHLANDS PROJECT. Click JOIN!