WSP12998 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

""-t:eviewjourna1.com -- News: Californians hail progress on water deal Page 2 of2 Drought conditions in the upper Colorado River basin that determine how much runoff from snowmelt will flow into Lake Mead, where Nevada taps the river supply, probably will mean only about half of the normal amount of surplus water would be available this year to Nevada and California if the agreement is approved. Pat Mulroy, general manager ofthe Southern Nevada Water Authority, called Wednesday's tentative deal announcement "pretty encouraging" but said she will wait until after the presentation today to comment further on it. "Without knowing what was laid out, there's nothing I can say," Mulroy said, adding that "there's no way all the issues are going to be resolved." Among the key issues, according to sources close to the California talks, are environmental liabilities and mitigation of the effect on the Salton Sea in Southern California if some 300,000 acre-feet of river water is transferred from agricultural use in Imperial Valley to urban use by San Diego and Los Angeles water agenCIes. That amount is equal to Nevada's allocation from the river. An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons, enough to cover an acre 1 foot deep or supply a family of five in Las Vegas for a year. Raley said concern remains over litigation involving the Imperial Irrigation District and the Interior Department. They are in court over Norton's halt to surplus water. The proposed accord is contingent upon restoration of California's access to such water. Find this article at: http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrLhome/2003/Mar-13-Thu-2003/news/20878330.html r Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. http://reviewjournal.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&expire=&urlID=568345 8&fb... 3/13/2003