Whether it’s a new road, bridge, water pipeline or foundation, our infrastructure is the backbone for building a healthy economy. But construction of new infrastructure is threatened by an unlikely source. Our region is running out of aggregate – the sand and gravel used in every residential, commercial and industrial building. Find out more about the aggregate crisis in our region.
During the next 50 years, Southern California will need more than 6.7 billion tons of construction aggregate, most of that demand coming from Riverside County.
Existing permitted sites are being exhausted rapidly. Proposed sites are competing with expanding development, environmental constraints and transportation corridors. Unless new sites are permitted, demand for aggregate during the next decade will not be met.
What will this mean?
An aggregate shortage increases the price for the materials that go into making concrete. The higher aggregate prices will mean higher costs for construction and road maintenance. As a result, our state and local transportation budgets will be stretched even further and new infrastructure construction will be delayed. The shortage might even lead to few projects being built.
There is also an environmental impact. Fewer transportation projects mean our aging infrastructure will have to bear the burden of more cars on the road, more pollution as people idle in increased traffic, slower commuting speeds and more time away from family. Trucks will have to drive farther to import the rock, gravel and sand, impacting traffic and generating more greenhouse gasses.
It is important to consider all lands containing construction aggregate quality resources for mineral resource protection policies, not just those that do not currently have a land use conflicts in place.
After these areas have been identified, the permitting process for developing the areas into an active construction aggregate facility should be streamlined to ensure a cost effective outcome that will also protect the environment and public health and safety of the surrounding area. In order to meet future demand and build needed infrastructure, we are obligated to permit local sources of aggregate. To help ease the aggregate crisis, write, call or email your local city, county and state leaders and let them know you support development of aggregate sources in Riverside County. For more information, please visit www.aggregatecrisis.com.
Source: USGS, Coopers Lybrand 1998