Lithium Boom Threatens Water Supply in California's Imperial Valley

A dusty vacant lot in Calipatria, California, has become a symbol of a growing conflict. Investors are rushing to the arid Imperial Valley to extract lithium, a critical mineral used in batteries for electric cars and phones. But the mining process requires large amounts of water. In a region already facing severe drought, residents and farmers worry the lithium boom could drain their water supply. The investigation was reported by Inside Climate News and Columbia Journalism Investigations.