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<br />Press+ Release <br /> <br />Page 1 of2 <br /> <br />Please click here to return to the previous page. <br /> <br />Press Room <br /> <br />J <br /> <br /> <br />OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR <br /> <br />PR03:079 <br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br />03/12/2003 <br /> <br />GOVERNOR DAVIS, WATER AGENCIES PRESENT <br />COLORADO RIVER WATER TRANSFER PROPOSAL <br />3/12/2003 <br /> <br />State Negotiating Team, Water Agencies Resolve Longstanding Priority and Use Issues <br /> <br />SACRAMENTO <br /> <br />Governor Gray Davis today praised State water negotiators and local water agencies on the successful presentation to the <br />U.S. Department of the Interior of a resolution to address the use of Colorado River water. After the collapse of negotiations <br />last year, Gov. Davis convened months of closed-door meetings with a State negotiating team and representatives from four <br />Southern California water agencies to reach this agreement. <br /> <br />"This is a major breakthrough in addressing California's long-tenn water needs," Governor Davis said. "All the parties at the <br />negotiating table worked diligently to make this a winning situation for everyone in California. This plan meets the needs of <br />urban communities, rural communities and the environment." <br /> <br />The proposed Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA), with all accompanying legal documents, was presented to the <br />Department of the Interior for its consideration. Approval by Interior Secretary Gale Norton will allow California to continue <br />receiving surplus water until 2015. Portions of the agreement will require legislative action. <br /> <br />Last December, local water agencies missed an earlier deadline to come to tenns on a Colorado River water transfer plan. In <br />response, Secretary Gale Norton cut the amount of water California can draw from the river this year by 600,000 acre-feet, <br />enough water for 1.2 million people. <br /> <br />The QSA is an integral part of California's plan to reduce its historic overdependence on the Colorado River. The agreement <br />creates a baseline for implementing water transfers and resolves longstanding disputes regarding priority and use of river <br />water. <br /> <br />"This is major milestone in the history of California water," said Gov. Davis. "It is notable that two largely agricultural irrigation <br />districts were able to find common ground with two urban water districts. "I cannot speak highly enough of the work done to <br />achieve this fair and balanced proposal. I congratulate the state's negotiators for keeping the parties at the table and helping to <br />facilitate this breakthrough." <br /> <br />"This historic agreement shows that agriculture can be part of the solution in assessing California's complex water needs," <br />added Bill Lyons, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. "The success of these negotiations can be <br />directly attributed to Governor Davis' involvement. His decision to install director Tom Hannigan as mediator was critical. The <br />Governor also recognized the importance of bringing agriculture to the table." <br /> <br />"In the past, water transfers have been opposed because of possible environmental impacts," said Mary Nichols, secretary of <br />the California Resources Agency. "This agreement makes sure that all of the environmental concerns have been addressed." <br /> <br />http://www.govemor.ca.gov/state/govsite/gov _ htmlprint.jsp?BV _ SessionID=@@@@0142623... 4/9/2003 <br />