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<br />The Future
<br />
<br />In contrast to 20 years ago, it is evident through the
<br />number of reports, bills, discussions and transactions
<br />that water marketing is becoming a serious consid-
<br />eration for managing California's finite water supply.
<br />The state also seems to be interested in taking a
<br />more active role in developing a water market in
<br />California as indicated by the Drought Water Bank
<br />in the early 1990s and the recent emphasis on water
<br />transfers in the legislature and CALFED.
<br />
<br />In 1999, the State Board released a draft publica-
<br />tion of A Guide to Water Transfers, the state's attempt
<br />to outline the existing laws that govern how to
<br />conduct a water transfer. Though only in draft form,
<br />the document examines existing sections of the
<br />California Water Code and describes methods of
<br />using the code to facilitate transfers.
<br />
<br />But, numerous unresolved issues need to be
<br />addressed. These include resolution of how to avoid
<br />potential harm to interests affected by water transfers
<br />- third-party and environmental - and agreement
<br />on the degree of market regulation and who should
<br />hold veto power over water transfers. There also is
<br />the issue of whether water transfers should be a
<br />shorHerm or permanent solution, or a combination
<br />
<br />~:;..:
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<br />. . "'" 1'., .;.
<br />;. , ~ .
<br />: 6Icrii~fPQt:-:.rhe amoOrlfof wate~tMtl'l!oUld cover
<br />1 ;<<, ",yc;,. ""..1." ," 1.
<br />'.. ~n ~c[~otJand l.foot.deep (325,851-g~liQns).
<br />.M~cre'foot:Of wate'r can support,tM ihdoor
<br />, ~~cjqU!doOf need_s?f one,to tl'l!o:tjrb<1.n:house-'
<br />hOlds for one, year, _ ' , ..,
<br />: ':Aqlllfer;-:A;ge:%gJc;fqrn:Ja,)iqn !ha;stores,trahs-,
<br />I ; .'M/\!> _a~qyield~'significant qU~Qtiti.e~ 91 water
<br />I , .. to wells-and'springs" , .. , ..
<br />, .6arrlage: wAtlll ,: ThEll amountof extra waterre;
<br />, 'quiredfor p~lt" qU)fi<iW: to:maintainthe water
<br />:qP~Ut~ staMards iMhe Celta.
<br />GqnN~cll;'e:Use'~ :rhe :planned use Of ground,
<br />. . : :waWjnqoriun~tion with surtac~ wale! in'oVer: .
<br />: .. :,\IIrl)an.ag~m~~t!t4 8~t!mize water resources. :
<br />.:lillll(eI9ped w,a!er;: IVaterithat is managed,
<br />,stoted: div,etti'9 ;f~q'1' .ri;vers, or otherwise:
<br />, 'dev~lppeg fPt ~4m,!n use, , .
<br />:GF01Jnth'!fAtetiWatets,tpred 4ndehirburid:i~ pqre'
<br />.; spacM lretw~en: tqcJ<~ .an,d;o,\he~ alluvial
<br />rf1aterialsl'lOd In:fra,Clu,r~s, qf:h~~d rock
<br />: f'l!I!hW i Cui,tiY1!ted land'that' Ifesidle ;durin!l. ~
<br />grpl'I!iI1g,se~s,on,.' :. . .
<br />ilnlerbasln,trl\n.l'fElr~.Tr~nslers of water from
<br />MS' basin to :another
<br />., """ "i\
<br />
<br />R i Y
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<br />of the two. It is difficult to assess the effect of
<br />permanent transfers because many of the impacts
<br />of short-term transfers - social, environmental and
<br />economic - are not comparable to the impacts of
<br />permanent transfers,
<br />
<br />Water marketing has taken and will continue to take
<br />many forms, and the various types and uses of
<br />transferred water can accommodate different needs
<br />if creatively structured. But water marketing is not a
<br />Gure-ali. It is one of several methods to meet
<br />escaiating demand. Other water supply options
<br />include water conservation measures by both the
<br />urban and agricultural sectors, desalination of sea
<br />water, recycling wastewater, and land retirement -
<br />taking agricultural lands out of production that have
<br />poor drainage and contain high levels of salt and
<br />selenium. Using a combination of these measures
<br />will put the state's most valuable resource to better
<br />use, ease the pressures of population growth and
<br />enhance fish and wildlife habitat.
<br />
<br />Developing a reasonable transfer system will be
<br />challenging but, whatever strategies are pursued, the
<br />most effective have and will continue to involve
<br />cooperation and consensus.
<br />
<br />1i1lrabasln Irans!.ers "Transfers of water within
<br />'the same basin..
<br />Overdraft - A condition that occurs In a ground- .
<br />water basin wHen pumping exceeds recharge
<br />ove'r an ,extended period of time, .
<br />Relurn f101'l!"Water that is applied to a crop but
<br />'nohconsumptively used, I'I!Hich makes its, w'!y
<br />,b.a,9k,tp a waterway and'is availaQle for use by
<br />.dol'l!nstream users,
<br />SUbsldlmce - The sinking of the iand surface due ,
<br />. .to a number of factors, of which groundl'l!ater
<br />'exfraction is one.
<br />Tl1trd'party Impacts - Direct and indirect
<br />, . eGOnomic, sO.GiaJ or environmental e1fects of
<br />. a Water transfer loa party other than the seller
<br />or buyer.
<br />Usufructuary -.A right to.use rather than own
<br />the 'property 'of another; such as the state's'
<br />water.
<br />Wheeling -The transportation of water, as the
<br />result of ad hoc contracts or other arrange-
<br />ments, in conveyance facilities in which the
<br />transferring party does not otherwise have the
<br />. authority to use,
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