LA Counties Water Problem Maybe Under The Desert

They say you can’t get water from a stone, but one man says he can solve California’s water crisis with water from the desert. Scott Slater or of Cadiz Inc owns 45,000 acres of the Mojave Desert The company says there is an enormous amount of water a few hundred feet below. The firm is proposing taking hundreds of trillions of gallons of desert ground water a year and piping it over a hundred miles to the populated land in LA suburbs. A big factor in the project is to pipe along a railroad line. The Obama Administration denied access to the federal land right of way. The Trump administration reversed that decision and has approved it. Environmentalists are not happy even though it can solve LA Basin’s water issues. These environmentalists believe it will raise the price of water and disturb the ecosystem. Cadiz Inc says they have judicial decisions that back their claim that the environment will not be harmed. California bill that SB 20 could have stopped the company’s plans to pump water out of the Mojave, died in the California Senate.

Marijuana and LA County Rules.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in 2017 to ban all commercial cannabis activities both medical and non-medical in unincorporated areas, including Quartz Hill, Littlerock and Lake Los Angeles. This move extends the 2010 ban on medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas and broadens the prohibition to include the cultivation, manufacture, testing and distribution of the drug for other than personal use. It will limit residents to growing six plants, with most single-family homeowners allowed to plant inside or outdoors, while apartment dwellers are restricted for indoor cultivation only. The amendment requires single family lots to install setbacks and fencing. Under the ordinance, plants may not be visible from public right of way, or above a fence. County workers raised concerns about enforcing laws on cultivation and worries that they might encounter growers willing to use weapons to defend their crops, according to Hahn. State permits for cannabis businesses were available as of January 2018.

Valley Fever Diseased Dust in Antelope Valley

Flying dust is not only an issue for renewable energy projects, but also tract home developers, agriculture and even archaeological digs must contend with airborne particulates, often on a daily basis. Add to that the high winds that blow all over the valley and you have an uncontainable problem. Lurking within Antelope Valley’s sandy soils is a mysterious and debilitating disease mostly known as valley fever but scientifically called Coccidioidomycosis, or “cocci” for short. It’s a fungal disease endemic to Antelope Valley, but also San Fernando and West Valley’s. Various locations in and around Antelope Valley have tested positive near housing developments. Cycles of rain and drought are known to exacerbate fungal growth and correlate to the rise of valley fever cases occurring within the state. Symptoms of Valley Fever are fever, coughing, chills, night sweats, chest pains, headaches, and spotty rashes. If one has a weakened immune system then more difficult cases can break out. Some ways to avoid valley fever are: Stay inside during dust storms and close your windows. Avoid activities that involve close contact to dirt or dust, including yard work, gardening, and digging. Clean skin injuries well with soap and water to reduce the chances of developing a skin infection, especially if the wound was exposed to dirt or dust.

The Desert Landscape of Antelope Valley has Grown Enormously Since 1980

The population and landscape of the Antelope Valley has undergone a substantial transformation the last 40 years. In the 1980s, the area began shifting from a sparsely populated, mostly white, high desert life to a bedroom community. Prices in lower LA County have priced out lower income families who then sought better housing costs in Lancaster and Palmdale. About 75000 AV residents commute daily into the greater Los Angeles area for work via car and rail. As of 2012 the population of AV is 507k with 153k in Palmdale and 157k in Lancaster with the remainder in the surrounding smaller cities. 48% of the population is non-Hispanic white, the second largest group is Hispanic, then African American and Asian. With the gradual growth has come a water issue. The aqueduct has brought in water since 1970 but as of 1964 Agriculture has taken most of the water, and in the AV farming land takes up more water per acre than anywhere else in the state. Currently, 35,000 acres of desert land, originally cultivated within Antelope Valley, lie fallow while about 10,000 acres are still actively farmed. AV got its greatest growth in the 80’s growing from 60 thousand to 222k by mid 1990. And 485k by 2010. That is 8 times in thirty years. Today with the growth of the Aerospace industry, solar farms, regional hospitals, the housing market has grown. These jobs are professional jobs with higher incomes allowing for much nicer homes, and many parts of the valley are now filling this need. If the valley continues to grow then more housing will certainly be needed.

Lockheed Martin joins race to make long-haul airships (Modern Blimp)

Lockheed Martin Corp. in Palmdale is looking to deliver a heavy cargo freighter. Skunk Works in Palmdale created the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane and the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter. Now the hangars has a 120-foot-long, 21-foot-tall dirigible that resembles a cloud with three puffs. This is a prototype of a much larger hybrid airship that Lockheed Martin Corp. has said may deliver heavy cargo and personnel to remote locations. It is called the LMH-1 will be a 21 metric ton, 300-foot-long and 78-foot-tall airship that is intended to carry truck-size loads to areas that are inaccessible to more traditional modes of transportation. It maybe more fantasy than reality though as they have no customers for the craft according to an LA Times report. This modern heavy lifting plane could be used for oil, and gas or other mining needs, humanitarian relief. The cost of the unit will cost $40 million, so likely only a government can afford such a craft. The skunk works units remains a high tech facility with a future vision in mind. This works for the growth of high paying jobs with higher educated people in need for housing and appealing surroundings.

LA County Building first New Freeway in 25 Years in Antelope Valley

The Los Angeles Times has reported that buying land and digging begins June 2018. That is correct Cal Trans and Joint Powers Authority has commenced the project for the freeway between Lancaster and Palmdale to San Bernardino. If you own land along P-8 you may be getting a call shortly. The $8 Billion dollar project will connect Hwy 14 to Interstate 15 along a 63 mile route. The environmental impact report has already been approved. This paves the way for land purchases along the route. They have $274 million set aside for land purchases via a sales tax increase from Measure M. Many are complaining about the environmental ecosystems of the burrowing owl, desert tortoise and kangaroo squirrel, but I failed to mention the Joshua tree and many other sensitive life. Many have squirreled away old land purchases in the hopes for development. Well the next few months you may get your opportunity. Much of the land along the route is barren unused land with little to no development in site especially along the eastern part of the valley. This land sells today for $1k/acre to a high of $2k/acre. Sellers may get more due to the need, but eminent domain may push the lower price based on recent sales. There is other land within the city limits of Palmdale and Lancaster that will fetch a much higher price, as the route moves mostly along P-8 and it will feed to the future High Speed Rail. If you have looked to sell or looked to buy then today maybe one of the best opportunities on the east side.

High Desert Corridor Freeway Approved? Time to Buy Land along the Route

The high desert corridor freeway is set to connect from Sierra Hwy and then east to Interstate 15 in Adelanto San Bernardino County. The highway will essentially run by the Cal High Speed Rail Palmdale terminal and run along Ave P-8 in Palmdale. It runs along P-8 and makes a turn north of Sun Village then is will drop down south of Lake Los Angeles and run along Q-10 to Q-12 which are just south of Palmdale Blvd. It will run for miles east to Adelanto and Interstate 15 which connects to Las Vegas. The news about this toll road has been coming down the pike for several years, but now it look like it will actually happen. This will happen long before the Cal High Speed rail arrives in Palmdale. Buying land along this route looks to be a real steal as land along P-8 in Palmdale in mostly industrial land and we can acquire it for a low cost. Also land south of Lake LA going east is very cheap in today’s market. This maybe a time to buy the east side of Antelope Valley and hold for a short term price increase. Contact us at sales@vacantlanddeals.com if you interested in buying along this corridor. The future is now and eastern Antelope Valley maybe a buying opportunity at low prices.