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<br />Future Elevation of Salton Sea <br /> <br />''At what elevation will Salton Sea become stabilized?" Unknown <br />factors make a definite answer difficult. An extensive system 01' drains <br />must be constl'ucted to permit continued farming Of the 150,000 acres in <br />Mexico within the drainage area of Salton Sea. What will these drains <br />contribute to Salton Sea? The 1944 watel' treaty between the United States <br />and Mexico is silent as to wasting of water from Mexican canals to Salton <br />Sea. What may this waste lli!I1ount to in the future? As upstl'eam development <br />occurs, the salinity of water in the Lower River will increas.e, and the <br />irrigated area tributal'Y to Salton Sea may receive five or six million <br />tons 01' salt a year. This salt will have to be passed on to Salton Sea in <br />order to mainta:l.n a salt balance in the area. How JIlUch water will it requil'e? <br /> <br />In 1924 when Salton Sea was approaching 250 feet below sea level <br />the GoverJJJllent withdrew from entry all public lands in the area more than <br />244 feet below sea level and created a Public Water Reserve, allowing for a <br />freeboard of 6 feet. But in 1927 the U. S. Geological Survey concluded that <br />the maximum future elevation 01' the .Sea might approach 220 feet belOW sea <br />level. So the Government in 1928 1'Ii thdrew from entry all public lands in the <br />area below that elevation, adding it to the Public Water Reserve. <br /> <br />In view of these facts, it may be anticipated that Salton Sea will <br />continue to rise for a numbel' 01' years, the rate depending upon various factors, <br />including weather conditions. The elevation of -220 feet set by the U.,s.G.S. <br />is 17 1'eet,higher th~ the pl'esent water level, and mayor may not be too <br />conservative. <br /> <br />District's Acquisition of Private Lands <br /> <br />As a result of the investigation 01' the U.S.G.S., and its own studies, <br />Impel'ial Irl'igation District acquired fee title or flooding rights to practi- <br />cally all the private lands under and around Salton Sea below elevation -230 feet. <br />Pl'obability of the Sea reaching a higher elevation in the future was recognized, <br />but it was felt such acquisition was as JIlUch as the District could undertake. <br />Cost to date exceeds half a million dollars. <br /> <br />District Does Not "Waste" Water <br /> <br />1l'am time to time, one hears it said that Imperial Irrigation District <br />diverts an excessive amount of water from Colorado River and wastes it to Salton <br />Sea in ord~r to build up water rights, or for power purposes. Neither of <br />these accueiations is true. The irrigation system operated by the District <br />totals 1800 miles in length. In ordel' to give service to its thousands of <br />users, some Water muet be used for regulatory purposes, but the amount is held <br />to a min:l:m:ttm and now is c6nsiderably less than before construction of Hoover <br />Dam and the A11~A:m:el'ica.n Canal, when the high silt content of the Rivel' neces- <br />sitated the use of large amounts of water for sluicing. Nothing would be <br />gained by diverting more than actual reCJ.Uirements in an attempt to build up <br />water rights. The District's rights are base.d upon appropl'iations made in <br />the 1890' s. Under California law, so long as the District uses due diligenc.e _ <br />and there has never been any Cl.uestion as to that - in putting to use the water <br />appropriated - its rights relat.e back to and are measured by the amount or such <br />appropriations and not by the amounts used this year, last year or five years ago. <br /> <br />-'Z/~ <br />