Economic impact reports
ReportWatershed Council releases economic impact report
November 19, 2007
The McCloud Watershed Council has released the "Potential Economic Effects of the Proposed Water Bottling Facility in McCloud" report. This report was prepared by ECONorthwest, a professional independent economic research firm from Eugene, Oregon, with 30 years of experience. The public is encouraged to download the 63-page report here and review its findings.

To download the report, click here.

Cover letterMcCloud Watershed Council cover letter
November 19, 2007
An Open Letter from the McCloud Watershed Council: 
As part of our mission, the McCloud Watershed Council is working to employ resource stewardship principles into McCloud’s economic development strategies. We have commissioned ECONorthwest, a Eugene, Oregon-based firm with 30 years experience specializing in economic and financial analysis of public policy, to conduct an analysis of the potential economic impacts of the proposed Nestle water-bottling project in McCloud, California. 

Among the findings are the following: 

  • McCloud is not getting fair market value for their resource. ($26 / acre foot versus a minimum of $600 / acre foot)
  • The majority of jobs will be low wage, entry-level positions that are unlikely to attract new families to McCloud.
  • The costs, both direct and indirect, are likely to outweigh the benefits.
  • The size, nature and exclusivity of the project preclude other opportunities for economic growth. 

Read the entire letter here.

Siskiyou County Economic Development Council (SCEDC) Economic Report
In November 2007, a revised version of the economic report released by the Center for Economic Development at California State University, Chico, entitled "Economic Impact of Nestle Waters North America on the Siskiyou County Economy" was released. This report was commissioned by the Siskiyou County Economic Development Council and authored by Dr. David Gallo. While this report is often quoted in pro-Nestle project arguments, the report reveals that the source of the numbers used came from Nestle rather than from an independent source. Other concessions are made within the 5-page report- click here to view it.

ECONorthwest Report Synopsis

SynopsisThe Nestle proposed facility would impose costs and obligations on the community that would likely outweigh the benefits
Looking at Crystal Geyser and Coca Cola, low-paying production jobs are hard to fill. There is no guarantee employees would be from McCloud and the majority of these positions would not attract new residents. People from outside McCloud would likely fill higher paying jobs. (Pages: 35-40)

Nestle will not improve unemployment rates or overall employment levels in McCloud or Siskiyou County (Pages: 35-40)

Nestle may cause losses of other jobs, firms, and residents in the county, thereby offsetting the 1 million annually in property taxes they might eventually generate. (Pages: 51-52)

Read the synopsis here.