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<br />L~~~ETTER; The Natural Resources Weekly Report 0 [J J 33;' Page 2 of2 <br /> <br />conservation on agriculturallands and suggests the plant could eventually be used to s~pply water for cities as <br />well as to meet treaty obligations. <br /> <br />"We have developed a series of ways to both preserve the Cienega and operate the [Yuma desalting project]," said <br />Sid Wilson, general manager of Central Arizona Project, who brought the working group together. <br /> <br />Reopening the plant at full capacity would cost about $23 million a year, according to the report. <br /> <br />Whether federal officials will adopt the working group's recommendations remains to be seen. A Reclamation <br />spokesman said yesterday that the agency is still perusing the report. <br /> <br />But Jennifer Pitt of Environmental Defense believes the agency is likely to adopt the proposal, which is based in <br />part on activities that state and federal water managers have already begun considering, such as compensating <br />farmers to fallow their fields. "I think there's a pretty good chance" that they will act on the report, she said. <br /> <br />Pitt and others hope the collaborative effort of the working group can provide a model of cooperation that can <br />help resolve other contentious issues in the Colorado River Basin. <br /> <br />"There aren't too many agreements where you've had governments, water providers and environmental interests <br />all come to an agreement," Barrett said. "I think that in and of itself is quite an achievement." <br /> <br />"This is usually not done on the Colorado," Pitt added. "I hope people look at it and see some potential for future <br />issues to be resolved this way." <br /> <br />Cli~tLhere to read the report. <br /> <br />Southwest reporter April Reese is based in Sante Fe, NM <br /> <br />RI'lBLlSIIIl\<;. Ll.C <br />&E w.\W.eenews--net <br /> <br />E;~EP!J.QIl~hiD.9.LLLC .E;.~J:;j)aily .Qreen~ir~_ . Lang.L~.tt~r <br />AbQlJtE;<StE;El1J~lj$hing .l?riY<.:lQyPQJi9" · SJQffJ)lr~~tory · C.QD.t<.:lQt!J.$ <br />@ 1996-2004 E&E Publishing, LLC <br /> <br />http ;//www.eenews.net/Landletter/include/print. php ?single=05050502 <br /> <br />5/5/2005 <br />