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<br />_....,.=.:=:O-=~..._--,-- <br />" , <br />--~-- --.~- ------ <br /> <br />o <br /> <br />Pay the county $750,000 annually "to assist the county in funding water <br />and environmentally related services...6 <br /> <br />The preliminary agreement ran into strong local opposition in the Owens Valley in <br />May 1989, however, forcing the lnyo County Board of Supervisors to reopen negotiations <br />with Los Angeles on a revised agreement. The basis for objections was not a lack of <br />sufficient financial compensation, but inadequate protection of the environment (which <br />suggests that certain impacts are not compensable).7 A revised agreement was concluded <br />in July 1989, and approved by the lnyo County Board of Supervisors and Los Angeles in <br />August. The final settlement requires additional groundwater monitoring and closer <br />examination of the effects of pumping on vegetation, and applies the program throughout <br />the Owens Valley, not just lnyo County. The city also agreed not to expand the capacity of <br />its water conveyance facilities leaving the valley for Los Angeles.8 <br /> <br />An interesting political evaluation of the rural county's handling of the negotiations <br />was rendered in the November 1990 elections. Three lnyo County supervisors who <br />supported the final agreement were placed on the ballot for recall. All three retained their <br />seats, however, by substantial margins (the votes in support of the recall efforts ranged <br />from 39 to 42 percent).9 The electorate's ratification of the agreement is significant in that <br />it may dispel fears among other community leaders that negotiating water transfer <br />settlements that are in the best interests of the community will not automatically result in <br />political retribution. The lnyo County jLos Angeles example suggests that local public <br />interest values--as defined by a package of environmental protection and mitigation <br />measures, and reasonable water supply levels--can be incorporated into water reallocation <br />decisions to the satisfaction of both parties. <br /> <br />5 <br />