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<br />001973 <br /> <br />encompasses the irrigated area in the Mexicali and San Luis RIo Colorado Valleys. <br />The irrigated lands are divided into modules, which are defined geographic areas. <br />Although District 014 includes some ejido properties, no water rights are attached to <br />those' ejido properties. The modules each have local governing responsibility for <br />water management and operate and maintain the distribution canals that are located <br />within the module. Figure 2 is a CNNA map showing the boundaries of the Modules <br /> <br />CNA operates and maintains the main delivery canals and drainage systems <br />as well as the levees and related flood control works that protect the area. ' CNA <br />receives water orders from each module that are aggregations of the water orders <br />from individual parcels within the module. CNA then delivers the ordered quantity of <br />water to the external boundary of each module and the zanjeros (ditch riders) <br />employed by the module make the water deliveries to the various parcels. The <br />zanjeros are responsive to the local political leadership within their individual <br />modules. As such, political, social, and peer pressure operate to assure that water is <br />delivered in a timely manner to the individual parcels that have placed orders for <br />water. The integrity of this system of combined federal and local management has <br />resulted in a set of checks and balances that are quite successful in preventing illegal <br />water use. If the CNA canal system and delivery ditches within the modules are to be <br />used to' deliver water to the Delta ecosystem, it is imperative that an advocate for <br />delivery of the Delta water be an active participant in governance of the participating <br />module or modules. <br /> <br />B. The "Compaction Zone" <br /> <br />Historically, some parcels of land distant from the CNA main canals were <br />irrigated and obtained water rights. This is particularly prevalent at the southern edge <br />of the San Luis RIO Colorado and Mexicali Valleys. In recent years, CNA has <br />operated a program to consolidate the irrigated land base into a more compact area <br />known as the "Compaction Zone. II <br /> <br />The Compaction Zone in District 014 was created in 1976, to consolidate the <br />irrigated areas by establishing an elevation 7.5-m asl (about elevation 25 feet, mean <br />sea level) and all land below this elevation was determined to be out of the <br />Compaction Zone (approximately 10,000 hectares). As part of the consolidation of <br />District 014, 8,000 hectares of land with water rights were condemned and water <br />users were relocated into and given lands within the Compaction Zone. <br /> <br />Additional land remains outside the Compaction Zone, however, and the <br />. owners have the right to receive water. The area outside of the Compaction Zone <br />faces several problems. Generally the land is of poor soil quality and productivity. <br />Because of the lack of drainage, a pumping system is operated to control the <br />groundwater elevation. Further, the water losses in the old dirt ditches are extremely <br />high. Perhaps most important, CNA has discontinued maintenance of the canal <br />system. <br />