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<br />DISTRICT
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<br />"J_ "..J" IT "~ t
<br />lHSU1f l11g;mm I1115a on D15u LC
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<br />Looking at Salton Sea options
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<br />\\-e ::2ye aE been concerned a::,oUI the Droolens mOl1r.tinQ ...,..ith the risirra level
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<br />of the Sal:on. Sea, Si~ce the beQ:r..ning of tJlis vear. the Dis:rict has ::Jaid abou~
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<br />59 miliion for damage c:aims and property purchases because of flooding.
<br />Some 512 million in da:naQe claims from the same period a!"e ::Jending. The
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<br />Sea is aba~t 5 inches hi2he:- than it "vas !as~ year. Wilen the Sea is at its hi2h-
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<br />est eleyation in ?vlay. it ...,:ill ve acout 5 inches higher than Ias: Year. baITing
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<br />en:: !lea'-~~: rclns~orms_
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<br />\Ve'ye begun a plan to purchase land, rather than just pay for damages and risk
<br />fur~re claims for damage on the same property (which has happened in the
<br />past). It will take an eSli:nated 535 million to settle claims and purchase prop-
<br />erty in areas "vhe:-e damage can be anticipated. \Ve "vill nat need to purc~ase
<br />agricultural lands in Imperial Valley becacse of the dike '\vo:-k we comoleted
<br />this year.
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<br />Of course '\'\-e can't go on buying land forever. \Ve need to begin serring up
<br />long-term programs to reduce the elevation of the Sea_ Our staff has worked
<br />.wi.h the \Vater Consen:ation .~..dyisory Board to come up with 55 milEo~
<br />wonh of proposed projects, su::::h as tail"water recovery syste.-ns and evapora-
<br />t:on ponds, .which could redu::::e d:e ele,,'ation by about 5 inches a year. Tv,.o
<br />la.e.al interceptor proje::::ts no"'''. under construction in the EDi)"1\VD program
<br />v.-i1i a~so he!;J,
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<br />T~lo::l1o-r{;::J"'="' 1\'1- B""~-..-1 r"\f D~-~""'~I)-, h.;:lt.c""~ ~l.,roU--l'na 'no'l';.e ~r"\ :;l~d D-o~ar"\"" for
<br />__::,~_:, U_i U_IU u_ i._'-.U__ ~'-::::Cl. l.; _.... ::>~.:::: 1 ...u ...LB. .' =' u.::>_
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<br />the Sea, The 59 millio:: :h:s yea~ carr.e from :he 523 mili.ion ffD/.vffVD lndirecl
<br />Fund, originally intended 10 mitigate impacts of:hat pro~arr:. and provide an
<br />enco"\vment for public purposes such as placing urban area can.als in uncier-
<br />grau:1d pipes. The Board wiIi need :0 decide whether the IID!JY1\VD Indirect
<br />FU:1d should be reple~ished_ T~is "vill determine the amount of financing the
<br />Dist:-ict '\'\'ill need and the "vater rate needed to fund the program.
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<br />For examole. if the Dis<:rict .we:-e to finance a prOQI"am that renavs the Indirect
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<br />F unci, seales claims. ;>urc;:ases proper~y: and carries out drainage reduction
<br />projects: tie amo~m ."xe ""-odd ~ave to borrow !ota!s 55~,9 milEorl, It .would
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<br />11 . ~ - "I'. .-"'"'\1" - 11 .
<br />ta~e aJO:.E ~J m! don a year lor .LV years to repay ana mcrease water rates
<br />about 15 percem:, from. S 12 !O ileady 514 ar:. acre- foo!. If the Board elects not
<br />cO re?le:::s~ :r:.e ILdirec: Fund ar:c uses all the mor:ey left in t!:e f..rnd, the cost
<br />would be alI:lost cut iT:. haT T~e:-e are omions in bet\veen as weil.
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<br />T::.ere are also o;Jtions on ho\,,' to bnd tne financing, The "'...ate:- rate could be
<br />increased~ an:~\-he:-e IrOr:1 :5.ft:". cents to n~.o dollars. \\-.ater rate and \\"a:er
<br />ayailability charges could each be increased. Different combinations '"""ere
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<br />Or:e ce:lair:ty is ti:a: v..-e ...,,-i~! be t~l~i::.g about this some more_ The issue ,..-ill
<br />- , d ,- B " , '" -q rlD
<br />ac on ~ne age:1 .2, Tor aare rr:ee:lngs coml::g up on _ .o'vemne:- ';:'.1. anu ecem-
<br />~.;:)o"!"" ~ a~ ~ ~ ~ .;n '-"~r 1='1 c~""'"':--() B. ()~~a' Rf""\nr"!l -rl~;O--~ "'r;:,. !"'~1l-.;1~~ T"f""';::::.o!-inO'''' ~nG:
<br />u__ -'~ "_ _ ~~._.l......L u_.... ~l. "".......l......., \J_.. Uv....... .........,;:,_ c:: _ .:----......Ul..'" .l.i..""'.....L..l ::;=> _...
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<br />'p;e are open to ~.our CCI=e::IS. ~f:''-otl :Ieed more in~or:na!:o!1~ please cali our
<br />C0r::::1uni~- Rela!ior.s o:f:ce 21 339-9044.
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<br />[;.: p~SS
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<br />S~:1.:i~--..-. ~~\.. 19 & ~i~:1day~ ~cv. 20~ i995
<br />3 .:J:-..:::-.r.s x ~2 ir:~:-i.es
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