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., The Sacramento Bee Friday, December 12,1997 A7 San Diego makes deal for Imperial Valley ag water By Paula Story Associated Press Sk\" DIEGO - San Diego and Imperial Valley agreed Thursday to the terms of a water transfer program that could keep waler flowing into San Diego County for the next 75 years and beyond. The pact between the San Diego Coun- ty Water Authority and Imperial Irriga- tion District aims to send conserved agri- cultural water from the Imperial Valley to ever-thirsty San Diegans. The agreement is now open for public review and both boards will consider final approval in February. Proponents laud the agreement as an historic model for California's 4.4 Plan. which savs the state must reduce its take from the 'Colorado River. The federal government and Califor- nia's neighbors - Arizona and other states along the Colorado - say lhe Gold- en State is sucking down more than Its share and must work to find alternatives. "We"'e always gone to some other part of California - or some other area - for our water," said Sen. David Kelley of Idylhnld. ''Theres no place else to go." California currently takes around 5.3 million acre feet of water each year, al- though its allotted amount is 4.4 million. An acre-foot is enough water for the typi- cal needs of two families each year. Scores of beaming negotiators attended a Thursdav news conference to explain the details -oflhe conserved water plan. The politically charged deal has been as much about moving a mountain of poli~ tics. paperwork and economic interests as it has been about moving water. "This was once viewed by many as something that just wasn't going to hap- pen:' said Chris Fraham, chair of the San Diego water board. "Now it is widely rec- ognized as something that is absolutely essential. . . not only to California but to all the weslern states." I The initial term of the partnership is 45 years, with the option of a 30-year ex- ten~lOn by either party. The two could pOSSIbly continue the rle3i beyond that dJ.te if both parties re- ~ negotiate. It provides for a m..,pmum transfer of 200,000 acre feet each year, with a mini- mum of130,000. Both parties would bear their share of any water shortage, and environmental contingencies are built into the plan. "To me, this whole thing is about trust and about team," said Lloyd Allen, vice president of the Imperial Irrigation Dis- trict Board of Directors. More than two years in the making, the plan still hinges on the giant Metropoli- tan Water District's wheeling rates - the amount they'will charge to send the wa- ter through their aqueduct and pipeline facility to get it from the Imperial Valley to San Diego. Under Thursday's proposal, Imperial Valley water would cost San Diego an e5- timated $250 per acre foot. San Diego now pays MWD more than $400. The new deal ofTers a declining discount starting at 25 percent that would end at 5 percent in the 17th year. '. The San Diego water authority h'as been negotiating the wheeling cost with MWD since January 1996, but the two have been at an impasse. Gov. Pete Wilson signed a bill in Octo- ber that says the State Department of Water Resources will recommend th'e terms of a wheeling agreement if one can't be reached. MWD ana the San Diego water author- ity are scheduled 10 meet Saturdav and officials said a deal could be ann~~nced following that meeting. ~~~\. ).