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<br />~nt By. B'll S . <br />. 1 wan Consu1t1ng Services. 480 941 86 <br />Legislators lose pa1ience over lagging w~ter WKS 58 j <br /> <br />Dec-23-02 12:25PMj <br /> <br />Page 3 <br /> <br />plans to preserve the Salton Sea, a wit_ sanctnatY that has beoome <br />a major barrier to the San Diego water~. <br /> <br />To make water 8l'ailable, Imperial groweris are expected to conserve <br />large amounts Dr idle fields. Either option would reduce runoff that <br />dilutes the wildlife-threatening salinity m:the Salton Sea. <br /> <br />Tbe Salton Sea is "the single ~ obstacle" to ending the impasse, <br />House mem.bel"S told Norton. Uncertainty .bout the Salton Sea's <br />future, they wrote, is the "direct result oUnterior's failure to caJTY out" <br />oongressional orders to develop a plan to :save the inland lake. <br /> <br />Imperial Irrigation District directors rejeCted the sale on Dee. 9. In <br />eJqllaining their decision, the Imperial bOard cited pressure from both <br />the Bush and Davis administrations and UDcertaintY over liability for <br />safeguarding the sea.. <br /> <br />Bennett Raley, Norton's adviser on ~ water iss~ has said <br />Congress could be blamed for the delay because members have asked <br />for an expanded study of the Salton Seats -predicament. <br /> <br />Under pressure from other states that want theirfuU entitlE'Jllel1ts to <br />the Colorado, Norton signed a directh'e,Monday to cut California's <br />share if negotiations do not produce a siPed agreement before tbe <br />end of the year. <br /> <br />'Were disappointed that the letter didnrt-recognize up front that the <br />secretary didn't bave any choice, " Raley:said. <br /> <br />California has taken up to 800,000 a~feet more than its share of <br />the mer foryears. Other states didn't o\>.ject until growth demands - <br />and now a historic drought - squeemHbe river's supply. <br /> <br />Under the multistate accord, Califondai would be given 15 yeam to <br />redure its re1ianre on tbe river. The SBii Diego attempt to bny up to <br />200,000 acre-feet a year from Imperial is the last unresolved piece of <br />tbe broader agreement. <br /> <br />Gov. Gray Da'ris said he remains hopeful. <br /> <br />"Dee. 31 has not arrived, n he said yest~y. "There are discussions <br />going on as we talk. A lot of these situations resolve themselYes at the <br />last moment." : <br /> <br />Copyright 2002 Uf!ion. Tribune Publishing cO. <br /> <br />Sltl...lmln I r&otiU;t~n lllIads.com I ~Dut ~i;naD.1 :M,vertIUl on Sl9nOn I MllcA Sla"On your hameDage <br />About the ~ I ~~t:t the UnimI:- TI:il:wnt <br /><<>> Copyright 2002 Unionf Trfbuns Publshlng CO. <br /> <br />httlJ :llwww.signonsandiego.comlnewsluniontriblfrilnewslnews _1 n2Owater.htrnl <br /> <br />12123/2002 <br />