California Moves to End Colorado River Water Wars
Date: 01-Oct-03
Country: USA
Author: Nigel Hunt
Calif. Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation this week to implement a pact reached between four state water agencies following more than seven years of often bitter negotiations.
California has been using around 5.3 million acre-feet per year from the Colorado River but is legally only entitled to 4.4 million acre-feet through water rights secured in some cases more than 100 years ago.
Other western states which rely on the giant river, including some with rapid population growth like Arizona and Nevada, have pressured California to take less water.
Four years of drought helped to further fuel demands that California should draw less water from the river.
Earlier this year the federal government lost patience and cut the state off from "surplus" supplies for 2003, effectively cutting California's allocation down to 4.4 million acre-feet.
"After years of often bitter negotiations, the Southern California water agencies that tap the Colorado River have finally agreed a plan that could lead to peace in their lengthy water wars," said Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California.
The settlement means that California will be able to reduce its dependence on the river over 14 years rather than face a permanent federally imposed cutback.
The legislation implements a pact between four of the state's water agencies, San Diego County Water Authority, the Imperial Irrigation District, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Coachella Valley Water District.
Under the deal, water will be transferred from agricultural agencies to urban water districts with farmers paid to retire land on a temporary two-year rotation. The largest crop in the affected region is alfalfa.
As California's dependence on water from the Colorado River is gradually reduced, the other Colorado basin states will be able to claim their legally entitled amounts of Colorado River water over the course of the 75-year deal.
"Today California sends an unambiguous signal to the federal government and to our neighbors in the Colorado River Basin that California has its water house in order," Davis said in a statement.
State lawmakers earlier this month passed three bills needed to implement the plan and the water boards need to approve it by Oct. 12, otherwise legislation expires.
Three of the boards have already done so and the fourth, the Imperial Irrigation District, is expected to sign off on the deal either later this week or early next week.
The legislation signed this week includes provisions aimed at restoring and protecting the Salton Sea, California's largest lake and an important habitat for over 400 species of birds, several of which are endangered.
