As the Colorado River runs dry, the states of the American West are facing a sobering reality. The water that sustains our farms and our homes is no longer guaranteed. In response, ambitious plans have been proposed to build eight massive desalination plants along the California coastline. These facilities would turn the vast resources of the ocean into the fresh water needed for our drinking and our agriculture. This billion-dollar investment is a testament to the necessity of stewardship in an age of scarcity.

Water is a gift that we must manage with the utmost care. The current crisis is a reminder that we cannot take the natural world for granted. In Corpus Christi, city leaders are also delivering warnings about the looming water supply outlook, pushing for their own desalination projects to secure the future of their community. While these technologies are expensive and energy-intensive, they represent a vital defense against the threat of engineered drought. We must support the efforts of our leaders to find innovative ways to provide for the fundamental needs of our families and our lands.