California: A water deal evaporates (Colorado River Water )

The Orange County Register ^ | Friday, January 3, 2003 | Orange County Register Editorial

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Mark Twain, who reputedly said that "whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over," would understand an ongoing battle that has the Imperial Irrigation District, other Southern California water agencies, seven Western states and the federal government at each other's throats over the future of the Colorado River.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

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[NormsRevenge]

Some environmentalists are gleeful over the situation. They understand that water is an essential part of growth, and that less water might mean fewer new homes and less urban sprawl.

But that's an unlikely scenario. Heavier than usual recent rainfall will postpone water shortages for several years. Other technologies and possibilities are in the works - i.e., the construction of desalination plants (converting the ocean's salt water into drinking water) and the construction of desperately needed water storage facilities. As prices of water rise, people will be more apt to conserve water, such as by planting drought-tolerant vegetation. Unfortunately, environmentalists have resisted new water storage and desalination proposals.

Heavier than usual recent rainfall will postpone water shortages for several years. Don't count on it! One major earth movement and all bets are off.

[trebb]

"Less water would mean higher costs and a lower quality of life" - right from the socialist Handbook :)

[concentric circles]

Imperial County's belligerence...

Since when is a refusal to be the fall guy considered belligerent? The Orange County Register is letting its big government petticoat show from beneath its libertarian skirt.

[Frohickey]

Some environmentalists are gleeful over the situation. They understand that water is an essential part of growth, and that less water might mean fewer new homes and less urban sprawl.

... As prices of water rise, people will be more apt to conserve water, such as by planting drought-tolerant vegetation. Unfortunately, environmentalists have resisted new water storage and desalination proposals.

Environmentalists have also resisted genetically modified plants, plants that have been genetically modified to tolerate drought.

[norton]

"...could have left the district on the hook for maintaining adequate water in the Salton Sea for environmental purposes..."

The Salton Sea is an accident, it's dead, it smells, and it must be artificially maintined or simply allowed to evaporate.

If there is an ecological arguement, it is that any effort to maintain the thing is upsetting natural processes.

But I guess it sounds good to be 'saving' something.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Lots of bird watchers go to the Salton Sea!

[Poohbah]

The Salton Sea is an accident

Indeed. IIRC, a canal operator screwed up. If there is an ecological arguement, it is that any effort to maintain the thing is upsetting natural processes.

By definition, it's intervening in the natural processes of the desert.

[liberallarry]

The farming folk in the Imperial Valley have legal title to their water.
Builders, realtors, bankers, and many other people have insisted upon growth despite their inability to provide adequate water to support it.
Now they insist on taking the farmers water because they can't find any more anywhere else.
The farmers think that's wrong. Therefore they're selfish and anti-social. That's why environmentalists are evil.

Does that make sense?

[greasepaint]

Welfare chiseler millionaire farmers own the water
of the Colorado in perpetuity.
City dwellers should have to PAY PAY PAY the FULL
Market Value of the water to the chiseler-farmers.
When the Imperial Irrigation Districts gets its water
for $10 @acre-foot, it should sell the water to the cities at not less than $500 @ acre-foot, thus ensuring that
the owners of the Colorado, or their decendants, are
justly compensated.
g.