We, the people of Fresno County, vehemently oppose blast drilling along the San Joaquin River. If CEMEX is allowed to mine, the effects could be devastating to our health and to the future of the great San Joaquin River.  

The river is our wealth; it has given us so much. We must live in harmony with it. For longer than man has existed, the river has been here—providing food and habitat to our flora and fauna, and to us: food, water, energy, and recreation. The river is, and has been, vital to the native people, and it is the basis for our town’s existence. We were born and built on the river. Water is Life! Why would we bring death to it, and consequently to ourselves?

Note: No Donations Needed. This cause is for the love of humanity, for future generations, and nature itself. We have a moral obligation to care for Earth. The river is the lifeline of the Valley; we must protect it. 

A top federal water agency states, “Imagine a massive hole, filled with lead and arsenic and other chemicals from blasting and drilling, breached by an engorged river, releasing its toxic contents downstream as it surges towards Fresno.”

SJRC Background:  (San Joaquin River Conservancy) The CEMEX Rockfield Project includes two sites: the Quarry, located south of Lost Lake Park, and the Plant, located just south of Ball Ranch. Mining at the Quarry started in 1913.

SJRC Project Summary:  The expansion includes the following changes:     

• Extension of mining for 100 years.     
• Change in technique from mechanical (digging) of sand and gravel to blasting hard rock and crushing it into gravel.
• Increase in depth of mine to 600 feet below ground surface (BGS) The project will have significant impacts on the San Joaquin River and surrounding lands, presenting an existential threat to the river.

The Bureau of Reclamation and its related entities have issued a stark warning to Fresno County about a potential catastrophe-in-waiting: the river breaching the 600-ft-deep pit. According to a letter acquired by Fresnoland, “The proposed mining site – only 200 feet from the river – has a greater than 60% chance of experiencing a major river flood during its 100-year lifespan.”

The SJRC website reads, “For context as to the scale of 600 feet, we identified the San Francisco high rise depicted here. Located at 50 Fremont Center, the building reaches 43 stories into the San Francisco skyline and is 600 feet tall. (* photo below.) If the CEMEX Rockfield Expansion Project moves forward, a hole deep enough to fit the entirety of 50 Fremont Center will scar the San Joaquin River bottom.” 600 feet is also the length of two football fields. (photo credit: Nathan Lindsey)

We, the People, deserve clean air and water. It is a human right. We must not permit billionaire corporations to pillage our land and waters. A quick online search will show that CEMEX has a history of environmental violations. 

With CEMEX blast drilling, we will end up like the folks in Colorado, left with pollutants in the  environment.

Mexico banned the same type of open pit mining, yet just this week AB 1425, Assemblymember Dr. Arambula’s bill to protect the river, failed at the State Capitol. Therefore, we must prepared to stop CEMEX at the county level.

For updates, follow: Save the San Joaquin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575191453948

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Further reading: (The first one & the video are essential.) 

https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/marek-warszawski/article305287981.html

https://a31.asmdc.org/press-releases/20250429-assemblymember-dr-joaquin-arambula-issues-statement-following-mondays-vote

https://mavensnotebook.com/2025/03/06/fresnoland-san-joaquin-river-officials-refuse-to-debate-cemexs-billion-dollar-blast-mine-mystery/

CEMEX Environmental Violations: https://violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org/?parent=cemex&order=primary_offense&sort=

warszawski/article298349908.htmlhttps://riverparkway.org/what-we-do/cemexproject/

https://fresnoland.org/2025/03/26/arambulas-bill/

https://gvwire.com/2025/04/01/can-cemex-dig-a-600-fit-hole-and-not-harm-the-river-arambula-says-no-and-writes-a-bill/

https://fresnoland.org/2025/04/30/arambulas-bill-2/

https://gvwire.com/2025/04/01/can-cemex-dig-a-600-fit-hole-and-not-harm-the-river-arambula-says-no-and-writes-a-bill/

https://www.kvpr.org/environment/2025-03-26/fresno-lawmaker-steps-in-to-block-billion-dollar-blast-mine-on-san-joaquin-river

Additional reading CEMEX Plant in Davenport, CA (outside of Santa Cruz)

https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2017/11/08/a-company-town/

https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2010/01/23/davenport-cemex-plant-to-shut-down-for-good/

Video-Colorado Residents vs. CEMEX: https://www.kunc.org/news/2024-10-24/boulder-countys-battle-to-shut-down-cemex-cement-plant-will-stretch-into-2025