Water agencies reach historic agreement on Colorado River use

By LAURA WIDES
Associated Press Writer

LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) Four California water agencies reached a landmark agreement early Wednesday that expands agriculture-to-urban water transfers and provides a framework for ending decades of dispute over the Colorado River.

The agreement, which still must be approved the board of directors of each agency, will help protect the future of Southern California's water supply. It is the key part of the state's plan to live within its allocation of Colorado River water. The plan must be presented to the federal government by a Dec. 31 deadline, or the state could face drastic, immediate cut to its river supply by the federal Department of the Interior.

``We feel magnificent about it, this is a boost not only to the San Diego region, but to California as a whole and will set the tone for future water policy and negotiations,'' said Dennis Cushman, assistant general manager for the San Diego County Water Authority.

The four parties originally agreed to terms in 1998, but the deal was held up over environmental concerns.

Under the terms of the agreement reached after four days of marathon negotiations, Imperial Valley will transfer up to 1 million acre-feet during the first 15 years of the project to the 3 million people living in San Diego County through more efficient irrigation and land fallowing. Imperial Valley farmers will fallow an average of 20,000 acres of land a year out of the 400,000 acres that are in production.

The final deal transfers less water during the early years of the 75-year agreement to protect the fragile, nearby Salton Sea. The salty sanctuary is home to about 400 species of birds that rely on farm runoff.

Officials have yet to come up with a final plan for long-term protection of the sea, which is 33 percent saltier than the ocean and will become uninhabitable for fish and other wildlife in the next two decades unless measures are taken.

The Imperial Valley will receive $258 per acre-foot of water that it transfers to San Diego. One acre-foot is enough for two families of four to live on for one year.

Officials said $200 of the $258 received from the water transfer will go to Imperial Valley farmers and the rest will be earmarked for environmental mitigation and to help communities hurt by the decrease in farm production.

The deal involved the San Diego County Water Authority, the Imperial Valley Irrigation District, the small Coachella Valley Water District and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which serves 17 million customers.

Under the deal, Coachella Valley also will receive up to 100,000 acre-feet per year from Imperial Valley.

Of the money San Diego will pay Imperial Valley, $10 million will go up front to offset socio-economic impacts on the agriculture-based region as well another $10 million over the next 20 years. San Diego also has agreed to pay any additional costs related to the socio-economic fallout associated with the water transfer.

Imperial Valley, which was most worried about being sued over damage to the Salton Sea, will have its liability for damages to the sea capped at $30 million. The three other agencies did not specify their liability limits.

As part of the water plan, California must ensure peace within its borders. All water districts that receive Colorado River must agree to permanently stay within their allotted share and must promise not to sue one another for more water.

The agreement comes at a critical time for California with the Colorado River at an all-time record low. Officials said while there is no immediate impact, California could face shortages as early as 2004.

The Imperial Valley-San Diego transfer would smooth over claims by neighboring water districts that Imperial Valley's farmers waste their lion's share of the Colorado River through inefficient agricultural practices.

Imperial Valley receives over half the roughly 5.1 million acre-feet that California has been syphoning off the river for decades. California must gradually wean itself back to the 4.4 million acre-foot limit it first agreed to in the 1930s.

^ =

On the Net:

U.S. Department of the Interior: http://www.doi.gov/

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)