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<br />r. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Cadiz Vnd~rground Storage and Recovery Project <br /> <br />On August 29, 2002, the Department of the Interior approved the Final Environmental <br />Impact Statement for the Cadiz Groundwater Storage and Dry-Year Supply Program and issued its <br />Record of Decision (ROD) completing the federal environmental review process. The ROD amends <br />the California Desert Conservation Area plan by providing an exception to the utility corridor <br />element and offers to MWD a right-of-way grant for the construction and operation of the Cadiz <br />Program. <br /> <br />A cornerstone of the Cadiz Program is the Groundwater Monitoring and Management Plan <br />consisting of a network of monitoring and data collection features, which will form a protective <br />perimeter around the Cadiz Program area. <br /> <br />The Cadiz Program still awaits certification under California law of the joint Final <br />Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement by the MWD Board of Directors and <br />final agreements between MWD and Cadiz Inc. <br /> <br />Senate Bill No. 482 <br /> <br />On August 30, 2002, the California Senate passed Senate Bi11482. Senate Bill 482 addresses <br />various sections of the California Fish and Game Code related to "fully protected" species, and the <br />California Water Code related to the Salton Sea. The bill was passed by the Assembly and now <br />awaits the Governor's signature. <br /> <br />The proposed legislation makes legislative findings concerning the Salton Sea and the <br />Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA). Additionally, the legislation provides the California <br />Department of Fish Game with the authority to provide incidental take authorization for species <br />currently classified as "fully protected." <br /> <br />Major provisions of the proposed legislation include the following: (I) Provided that if <br />Proposition 50 is passed during the November general election, it is the intent of the California <br />Legislature to provide $50 million to assist in the implementation of restoration activities and the <br />preferred alternative related to implementation of the QSA, and QSA-related activities (A copy of <br />Senate Bill 1473 which authorizes the expenditure of the $50 miJlion has been included in your <br />handout material); (2) The Fish and Game Code was amended to provide incidental take <br />authorization for fully protected species potentially affected by QSA-related activities; (3) <br />Restoration of the Salton Sea is in the State and national interest; (4) The QSA must be executed by <br />December 31, 2002; (5) That implementation of the QSA will not materiaJly increase the salinity <br />of the Salton Sea, or foreclose Salton Sea reclamation activities; (6) The Secretary of Resources will <br />develop a Memorandum of Understanding between the Resources Agency, Governor, and Secretary <br />of the Department of the Interior for the purpose of developing alternatives. to meet the objectives <br />of the Salton Sea Reclamation Act of 1998 (p.L. 105-372); (7) The Secretary of Resources shaJl <br />establish an advisory committee, and the Resources Agency wiJl consult with the advisory <br />committee while developing Salton Sea reclamation alternatives; and (8) That Imperiallrrigation <br /> <br />6 <br />