WSP12983

• File Number: 8210.140.20.C
• Description: Imperial Irrigation District ‎(IID)‎
• State: CA
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 12/4/1996
• Author: John Penn Carter
• Title: Summary of Authorities Pertaining to the Lease of Water from the Imperial Irrigation District to the San Diego County Water Authority
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

. .'

· Undertook extensive negotiations with Coachella Valley
Water District to provide a firm supply of water to CVWD.

· Developed a water plan which (1) caps normal year water
orders for the agricultural agencies, (2) provides for a
Lower Colorado River water bank, and (3) proposes a water
transfer/overrun payback program.

· Developed 200,000 acre-foot emergency water conservation
program.

· Concrete lined over 1,100 miles of canals and laterals.

· Constructed regulating and storage reservoirs.

· Constructed interceptor and seepage recovery systems.

· Implemented system automation measures.

· Installed tailwater recovery systems.

· Developed water management programs.

· Participated in the Lower Colorado River Basin Regional
Solution process.

· Adopted Resolution No. 4-95 -- "lID 2000: Defining the
Imperial Irrigation District's Role in Western Water
Policy. "

lID continues to proactively promote and support opportunities
to transfer conserved water to other areas in California. On
September 19, 1995, lID entered into a Memorandum of Understanding
with the San Diego County Water Authority (Authority) which set the
framework for negotiations with the Authority to lease conserved
water to the Authority. On July 23, 1996, lID and the Authority
released for public review a "Summary of Draft Terms" for a
cooperati ve water conservation and transfer program. The Coachella
Valley Water District (Coachella) and others question lID's legal
right to lease conserved water to the Authority.

OVERVIEW OF lID'S LEGAL POSITION2

California and federal water law and policy promote the
conservation and transfer of water to meet the growing water needs
within Southern California. The negotiations between lID and the
Authority follows this law and policy. Careful analysis of the
pertinent compact, statutes, cases, and state and federal
regulations, clearly establishes that a lease of conserved water by

2

For a more detailed discussion about lID's water rights, see Memorandum
Reqardinq the Water Riqhts of Imperial Irriqation District, December 1995, J. Carter
and P. Engstrand; and Leqal Issues Pertaininq to a Proposed Transfer within
California of Colorado River Water, November 1996, J. Carter and P. Engstrand.

2