August 7, 1998
A deal is close, but San Diego County still has several hurdles to overcome before it can transfer excess water from the Imperial Valley.
Directors of the San Diego County Water Authority were slated to review a draft plan in a closed session that would allow thirsty San Diego to eventually increase its imported water supply by about 40 percent by shipping water from the Imperial Valley.
The authority agreed three months ago to buy conserved Colorado River water from the Imperial Irrigation District beginning early next century. Proponents say the deal will protect the county's $88 billion economy from a crippling future drought and become a model for water conservation efforts.
The only way to get that water into San Diego County is over the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's Colorado River aqueduct. Though many of Metropolitan's member agencies have independent water supplies, Los Angeles area water groups argue that the Imperial-San Diego water transfer would force the entire district to pay for the project.
Under the proposed pact, Metropolitan would agree to move conserved Colorado River water from the Imperial Valley into San Diego, but only as part of a larger agreement that also involves the U.S. Department of Interior and passage of a $1 billion California water bond in November.
Metropolitan is currently the only source of imported water for San Diego County.
The pact was being negotiated this week with representatives from Gov. Pete Wil-son's office.
``We're still working out remaining details,'' Christine Frahm, chairwoman of the County Water Authority's board of directors, said.
The agreement also hinges on the Interior Secretary assuring Metropolitan that there will be enough water flowing in the Colorado River to fill its aqueduct through 2015.
This would guarantee the Metropolitan Water District significantly more water from the river than its current entitlement. The aqueduct can move about twice as much river water into Southern California than the water district is entitled to receive in an average year.
The deal also would fall through unless the state of California provides $264 million to finance the lining of canals in order to conserve water. Colorado River water leaks from the earthen canals as it is brought to the Imperial and Coachella valleys.
These and other water conservation works eventually would lessen Metropolitan's and California's draw of Colorado River water. The state has exceeded its legal limit in recent years and caused concern among neighboring states who also use the river.
Additionally, no deal would be made unless the state provides an additional $30 million to pay for water storage and other water works to allow the water authority to import and manage the conserved Imperial Valley water. This money presumably would come from a statewide bond issue in November.
``We are very concerned by the appearance of taxpayer money here to seal this deal,'' said Tom Graff, senior attorney for the Environmental Defense Fund. ``Water users should pay for water, not taxpayers.''
Return
to Homepage