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Last modified
8/16/2009 2:54:37 PM
Creation date
10/4/2006 6:44:54 AM
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Board Meetings
Board Meeting Date
9/10/2002
Description
CWCB Director's Report
Board Meetings - Doc Type
Memo
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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />On Aug 2, Bennett Raley, Assistant Secretary ofInterior for Water and Science, expressed his doubts <br />that California will meet its commitments because a proposed water transfer from the Imperial Irrigation <br />District (lID) to San Diego has met with stiff opposition from environmentalists that say the transfer will <br />be the end of the Salton Sea, and the endangered and threatened species that depend on its waters. The <br />proposed transfer would pay Imperial farmers for up to 75 years to transfer up to 200,000 acre-feet of <br />water annually to San Diego (and optionally 100,000 AF to the Coachella Valley). lID farmers would <br />profit from the deal, which would pay for various water conservation projects and equipment. However, <br />increased conservation means the Salton Sea would lose its primary source of water, irrigation runoff. <br /> <br />Raley also said that the Secretary ofInterior, acting as the Colorado River water master, might divert <br />water from inland farmers under the beneficial use doctrine in the federal water contracts in order to <br />avoid shortages in urban areas, should the QSA fail. <br /> <br />Imperial Valley United plans to work to protect the community's water rights and its future through a <br />public education and advocacy effort. The organization has set up a website, www.ivunited.com and <br />plans to meet with editorial boards, elected officials and water leaders throughout the state, The Imperial <br />County Board of Supervisors, the Imperial Irrigation District and all seven local city councils have <br />passed resolutions supporting Imperial Valley United's efforts, <br /> <br />Colorado River Salinity at the International Boundary with Mexico: In July we informed you that <br />there might be a problem with maintaining deliveries of Colorado River water to Mexico within the <br />water quality limits (115 ppm +\- 30 ppm of that arriving at Imperial Dam) established by Minute 242 to <br />the 1944 Mexican Treaty. We were not certain of the reasons for this and asked Reclamation to look <br />into the cause. <br /> <br />Reclamation has subsequently determined that it is a combination ofthe improved water quality arriving <br />at Imperial Dam, coupled with the increased pumping ofthe Yuma groundwater mound and the low <br />flows associated with the current drought conditions that makes meeting the differential hard to achieve. <br /> <br />In order to assure the salinity standard is met, Reclamation has at times released water from Lake Mead <br />for dilution purposes. These deliveries and other factors, including water ordered but not taken, <br />rainstorms, and a lack ofregulatory storage at Senator Wash Reservoir, have resulted at times in <br />significant over deliveries of Treaty water to Mexico. <br /> <br />In order to reduce over deliveries and maintain the salinity standard, Reclamation must either operate the <br />Yuma Desalter, or help improve irrigation efficiencies and reduce drainage pumping, or undertake other <br />conservation measures such as land fallowing and development of new storage. <br /> <br />If Reclamation continues to provide dilution water in order to meet the salinity standard, some over <br />deliveries will likely continue. Because the dilution water comes from Lake Mead, there may be an <br />impact on equalization between Lakes Powell and Mead. <br /> <br />Reclamation has been working on a report to Congress concerning the necessity for operating the Yuma <br />Desalter and potential alternatives to operating it. Arizona and the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and <br />Drainage District are strongly encouraging Reclamation to operate the Yuma Desalter at one-third <br />capacity, We will continue to monitor all these interrelated activities and keep you infonned. <br /> <br />Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum: As noted in the last director's report, public meetings <br />to discuss the 2002 Review of Water Quality Standards for Salinity in the Colorado River Basin were <br />held throughout the basin in August and early September. The Colorado meeting was held in Montrose <br />on Aug. 21, where favorable comments were received from the local water user agency - the <br />Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association. <br /> <br />17 <br />
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