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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />SUMMARY OF AUTHORITIES PERTAINING TO THE LEASE OF WATER <br />FROM THE IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT TO <br />THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY <br /> <br />John Penn Carter1 <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />Imperial Valley possesses a substantial right to use one of <br />the earth's most precious resources -- water. Acquisition of this <br />important resource did not happen overnight. That it happened at <br />all is a tribute to the men and women who have dedicated themselves <br />to the dream of turning a burning, barren wasteland into a vast <br />agricultural empire. Those pioneers who dared face the harsh <br />realities of a hostile desert environment knew that water would be <br />necessary if they were to succeed. Pursuant to California law, <br />they appropriated a large supply of Colorado River water. Surely, <br />the pioneers did not envision that any of this appropriated water <br />would ever be transported and used in other areas of California. <br />But at the time of the appropriations, the water became part of <br />California's share of the annual flow of the Colorado River. <br /> <br />As successor in interest to those water rights, the Imperial <br />Irrigation District (lID) has exercised its fiduciary obligations <br />as trustee of the water rights beneficially owned by Imperial <br />Valley's landowners. For the better part of 90 years, the Imperial <br />Valley and the lID took somewhat of an isolationist position and <br />concentrated on the task of providing food and fiber for the <br />nation. <br /> <br />Although lID and its farmers began implementing conservation <br />measures in the 1950's (approximately 138,000 acre-feet each year <br />was being conserved prior to 1984), on January 24, 1984, the lID <br />Board adopted Resolution No. 8-84 inviting others to meet and <br />discuss the funding of water conservation opportunities in Imperial <br />Valley and the use of the conserved water by those funding the <br />conservation programs. Since that date, lID has: <br /> <br />· Adopted a Water Conservation Plan. <br /> <br />· Entered into IID/MWD water conservation agreement. <br /> <br />· Diligently pursued the lining of the All-American Canal. <br /> <br />· Offered drought assistance to the State of California. <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />Chief Counsel, Imperial Irrigation District. Presented at Attorneys <br />Subcommittee Panel, ACWA Fall Conference, December 4, 1996. <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />