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<br />Intenor ~ecretary !'UlIS Uut 01 Water Dispute <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />outside assistance, California water disputes are rarely settled. <br />"It appears to me that the parties, having come so close to <br />agreement in January, are now drifting apart," Babbitt wrote. <br />"I truly hope this does not signal the onset of yet another <br />western water war." <br />Babbitt suggested that the California agencies settle their <br />differences before he resumes his mediation. <br />Negotiations had been set to resume today in Los Angeles <br />with a mediator assigned by Babbitt, and further meetings had <br />been planned for Washington. At issue are matters of how <br />much water each party can expect in dry years and wet years <br />and who will pay for conveyance and storage facilities. <br />Under the 1931 agreement, California is assured 4.4 million <br />acre-feet of water a year from the Colorado--with 3.85 million <br />of that split among irrigation districts in the Imperial, <br />Coachella and Palo Verde valleys, and 550,000 acre-feet <br />allotted to the MWD. <br />In recent years, however, the MWD, which serves 16 <br />million residents, has annually received several hundred <br />thousand acre-feet above its allotment. With its entitlement and <br />the "surplus" allotment, California's take from the Colorado <br />River has reached 5.2-million acre-feet. <br />Babbitt has insisted that California go on a water diet and <br />learn to live within its 4.4-million share because surpluses will <br />not be available indefinitely. As a motivation for California to <br />find ways to cut its water use, Babbitt has threatened to reduce <br />the allocations of surplus water. . <br />Jesse Silva, acting general manager of the Imperial <br />Irrigation District, said of Babbitt's withdrawal from mediation: <br />"We're sorry that MWD's demand brought this situation on. We <br />don't want to see it interfere with the San Diego agreement." <br />Joseph Parker, San Diego County Water Authority board <br />chairman, said, "This is an unfortunate turn of events that could <br />put our transfer [with Imperial Valley] in peril." He said the <br />issue is made more difficult by "a certain amount of <br />belligerence" by various parties. <br />The Imperial Irrigation District has agreed to sell up to <br />300,000 acre-feet of water a year to San Diego--enough for 2.4 <br />million people--but the deal can only be consummated if the <br />MWD, Imperial and Coachella dispute is settled. <br />MWD Chairman Phillip J. Pace declined to comment on <br />Babbitt's move, referring instead to a letter sent Wednesday to <br />Imperial Irrigation District officials. Pace wrote that he was <br />heartened by comments made Tuesday at the MWD meeting by <br />Imperial Irrigation District board President Bruce Kuhn that he <br />would be willing to continue discussions with the MWD. <br />Pace, however, chose to overlook less accommodating <br />comments, including a vow by Imperial board member Andy <br />Horne that "I can assure you we will not stand by and allow our <br />water to be taken. We will resist such efforts with every <br />resource at our disposal." <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Copyright 1999 Los Angeles Times. All Rights Reserved <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />:;. Search the archives of the Los Angeles Times for similar stories about: <br /> <br />http://www.1atimes.comIHOMEINEWS/STATE/t000013155.html <br /> <br />Page 2 of3 <br /> <br />2/11/99 <br />