Laserfiche WebLink
<br />00230~ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />in use and change in diversion location. As the September 21" deadline approached, agreement <br />among the California parties negotiating quantification of the water use under the third priority of <br />California's Seven Party Agreement had not been reached, thus MWD and CVWD filed formal <br />protests to preserve their rights to appear at an SWRCB hearing. Included in the Board folder, for <br />your information, are copies of their protests, as well as, a copy of Western Farms' protest. <br /> <br />Basin Statesrrribes Discussion <br /> <br />On September 16-18, 1999, the Water Education Foundation held a symposium on "Managing <br />the Colorado River: Past, Present, and Future." This symposium was well attended and several <br />representatives from the Board were in attendance. The purpose of the symposium was to provide <br />participants with different perspectives and lead to a greater understanding of issues involving the <br />Colorado River. I believe these objectives were accomplished. <br /> <br />As the Board members are aware, the discussions related to development of the 4.4 Plan since <br />the September Board meeting have focused on the "administration of the third priority" held by the <br />agricultural agencies. Those discussions have been among the CVWD, lID, MWD, SDCW A, <br />Mr. David Hayes of the Department of the Interior, and Mr. Tom Hannigan of the Department of <br />Water Resources. A number of meetings and conference calls among the parties have been held since <br />the last Board meeting. After several late-night negotiating sessions, a framework agreement dated <br />October 15, 1999, and entitled "Key Terms for Quantification Settlement Among the State of <br />California, lID, CVWD, and MWD" has evolved. That framework agreement was endorsed by each <br />of the involved Boards on October 18, 1999. During our Board meeting, the signatory parties will <br />make a presentation on the terms of the agreement and the next steps called for in the agreement. <br /> <br />With agreement among the agencies on the three identified linchpin issues 1) wheeling <br />conserved water from Imperial Irrigation District to San Diego County Water Authority, 2) the <br />quantification of water use within the third priority of the California Seven Party Agreement, and 3) <br />a proposal for revising reservoir operations, the Board needs to focus on development of its 4.4 Plan <br />and begin discussions with representatives of the other Basin states. <br /> <br />Six public scoping meetings are being held this month in Brawley, CA; Salton City, CA; El <br />Centro, CA; Las Vegas, NV; and Carlsbad, CA. The purpose of these meetings is for the public to <br />review and comment on a Notice of Preparation (NOP) in accordance with the California <br />Environmental Quality Aet (CEQA) and a Notice of Intent (NO!) in accordance with the National <br />Environmental Policy Act (NEP A) for preparation of an Environmental Impact Report! Environmental <br />Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the Imperial Irrigation District (IID)/San Diego County Water <br />Authority (SDCW A) Water Conservation Project (Project). IID is the lead agency under CEQA and <br />Reclamation is the lead agency under NEPA. The EIR/EIS will evaluate other feasible Project <br />alternatives, including a range of alternative conservation measures, water supply and transfer <br />alternatives, and various alternative measures in addition to the "No ProjectfNo Action" alternative. <br /> <br />Board staff attended the meeting held in EI Centro on October 14, 1999. The meeting was <br />attended by about thirty people and much of the concern expressed by the public centered around <br />perceived loss offarm labor jobs through the implementation of the Project. Issuance of the Record <br /> <br />3 <br />