California: Key vote on water issue at hand

SACRAMENTO – Southern California appears positioned to stall a punishing water shortage even if the state fails to close a crucial deal to share the Colorado River.

California's fate could be determined as early as today when a sharply divided Imperial Irrigation District board is expected to vote on a proposal to sell up to 200,000 acre-feet of water to the San Diego County Water Authority.

The Imperial-to-San Diego transfer is a key piece of a seven-state agreement that requires California to reduce its draw from the Colorado River over the next 15 years. The transfer would provide the state with a soft landing from the loss of river water while providing a reliable source for San Diego's future.

If the accord is not sealed by Dec. 31, California stands to lose as much as 800,000 acre-feet of water – enough for 1.6 million households a year. For years California has used more than its share of the river, but other states now are clamoring for their full legal entitlements.

Wary of the outcome, the Metropolitan Water District, which wholesales water throughout Southern California, has intensified plans to tap extensive reserves and buy supplies from farmers hundreds of miles away to the north.

Metropolitan's long-range strategy involves accelerating investment in desalination and recycling projects that could add billions of gallons to Southern California's water supply, but at a heavy price.

If the wholesaler succeeds, Southern California could be spared – at least for a few years – much of the economic pain that usually accompanies water shortages.

"Plan B gives me confidence that there won't be any material economic impact in the next couple of years," said Bennett Raley, lead water negotiator for the U.S. Interior Department.

Still, 17 million Southern Californians – including 3 million residents of San Diego County – could be asked to pay more for less. Metropolitan estimates a 10 percent reduction in its deliveries could save enough water to serve the city of San Diego for a year.

"The only certainty is it will be more expensive," said Adan Ortega, a Metropolitan vice president.

Jim Turner, chairman of the San Diego water authority board, said Metropolitan's search already has secured potentially half of the threatened cut from the Colorado.

If the multistate accord falls apart, "there may be some water shortages but I don't see businesses going out of business . . . There will be some lag time before anything drastic," Turner said.

Some Imperial farmers sharply critical of the conditions outlined in the San Diego water sale have offered help.

"We're not against sending water," said John Hawk. He suggested that farmers could sell San Diego 10,000 acre-feet of water now and extend long-term talks.

Imperial district directors are under intense local pressure to veto the deal. Many farmers and businesses say agricultural land would have to be left unplanted to free water for sale, costing jobs. They also worry about being stuck with a bill for unexpected environmental safeguards.

If the water deal collapses, the Interior Department has threatened to cut California's supplies. That doesn't mean the spigot will remain off. Interior Secretary Gail Norton can augment deliveries at any time if California demonstrates it has met certain requirements to save water.

As the Dec. 31 deadline looms, Metropolitan officials continue to scour two states and dozens of counties for water.

Metropolitan's largest reserve is Diamond Valley Lake, a recently opened reservoir near Temecula. Metropolitan could draw down the reservoir by about 300,000 acre-feet, Ortega said.

Metropolitan also has banked emergency water in several underground pools in Kern County and Arizona that could provide about 170,000 acre-feet.

"They've got a lot of piggy banks," said Gary Bucher, a representative of the Kern County Water Agency negotiating a separate 50,000-acre-foot transaction with Metropolitan.

Bucher said Metropolitan appears confident judging from its bid to buy just 50,000 acre-feet.

"That shocked me. That tells me they've done a very good job" of preparing, he said.

Metropolitan also is nearing deals to buy 200,000 acre-feet of water from Sacramento Valley growers this year.

Later, brokers in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys will discuss multiyear contracts that could further cushion Colorado River losses.

"We're open to it. We're just not quite there yet," said David Guy, who represents a coalition of Northern California farm water districts.

Metropolitan's suggestion that the state might be able to temporarily weather a shortage also banks on luck. The Colorado River basin is in the throes of a merciless four-year drought. The best-laid plans could be subverted if that dry spell persists or if California experiences a mild winter.

Water will soon supplement electricity as a scarce commidity here in southern California.

What will our politicians do to ensure the continued good living in California?

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Why not think of this as all part of one piece? Zimbabwe -- Water taps in Harare run dry Over there, each new discrete segment of their depopulating incrementalism has had a shorter half-life than its predecessor because of the ever more degenerately despotic Mugabe.

But be of good cheer. Over here Mugabe's not-so-closeted cousins need to behave a bit more subtly still. After all, we still have fair elections. </sarc>

You posted, Water will soon supplement electricity as a scarce commodity here in southern California.

Rent a copy of Chinatown with Jack Nichols for a look at how the scarce commodity water played in S. California over 50 years ago.

What will our politicians do to ensure the continued good living in California?

Earnest, the eternal optimist.

My advice Ernest. Always glance backward before bending over.

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