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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />California's Colorado River Water Use Plan <br /> <br />Yuma Island Issues <br /> <br />Last month, the Board discussed the upcoming informal public hearing to be held on <br />October 10'" in Yuma, Arizona, and the Board's presentation at that hearing to the Independent Panel <br />regarding the use of Priority 2 water on lands on Yuma Island. On September 27, 2002, Reclamation <br />sent a letter to interested parties containing additional information regarding the October 10'" <br />hearing; however, because of concerns raised by the Department of Justice regarding the on going <br />litigation in Arizona v. California and a request from the Quechan Indian Tribe to have further <br />"government to government" consultations regarding Yuma Island issues, Reclamation has decided <br />to postpone the October 10'" hearing indefmitely. The Board received a letter dated October 4, <br />2002, confirming the postponement of the hearing. A copy of Reclamation's October 4'" letter is <br />included in the handout material. <br /> <br />In conjunction with this postponement and Reclamation's desire to further consult with the <br />Quechan Indian Tribe, I have notified Reclamation of our concern with holding private meetings <br />with the Quechan Indian Tribe that involve members of the Independent Panel. It is our belief that <br />such private meetings constitute ex parte communications which fundamentally compromise the <br />integrity and legitimacy of the Panel's public review process. <br /> <br />Also, we have received a copy of an October 1,2002 letter sent to Reclamation on behalf of <br />the Quechan Indian Tribe regarding the Yuma Island issues. This letter is currently being reviewed <br />. by the staff and agency representatives on the Colorado River Board. <br /> <br />Assembly Bill No, 2092 <br /> <br />Last month I briefly discussed the recent activity related to a potential exchange of State <br />Sovereign lands along the old Colorado River channel around the Yuma Island in Arizona and <br />California. Each state has passed legislation which facilitates the transfer of these sovereign lands. <br />The California legislation, Assembly Bill 2092, signed by Governor Davis on September 7, 2002, <br />authorizes the California State Land Commission to enter into exchange agreements with the State <br />of Arizona. The legislation further establishes a process for ensuring that upon completion of all of <br />the possible exchanges, if there is a difference in the total fair market value of the land transferred <br />to Arizona and that acquired by California, the difference will be paid into or out of the California <br />Land Bank Fund. <br /> <br />Based upon infonnation recently provided to me by the California State Land Department, <br />the total acreage involved in the evaluation and potential exchange process is approximately 750 <br />acres. Approximately 350 acres are currently within the State of Arizona, and just over 400 are <br />located within the State of California. <br /> <br />I have included a copy of Assembly Bill 2092 in your Board folder for your information and <br />review. <br /> <br />4 <br />