Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />volume of 4.2 acre-feet per year per acre of land will be used in determining the amount of land to <br />be retired or fallowed. However, to date, BEP II still has not specifically located and listed any lands <br />for the WCOP to supply BEP II with water. <br /> <br />Related to the BEP II is a determination to the lands on the Mesa eligible to receive priority 3 <br />water under California's Seven Party Agreement. At this time an application by the Riverside <br />County Economic Development Agency is being held up by the Board awaiting a determination of <br />the lands on the Mesa eligible to receive water under Palo Verde Irrigation District's third priority. <br />The application by Riverside County is for 1,690 acre-feet of water for future commercial and <br />industrial development. <br /> <br />Senate Bill 2868 <br /> <br />Recently I became aware of legislation (S. 2868) introduced by Senators Domenici (NM), <br />Campbell (CO), and Allard (CO), to investigate how to minimize the impact of and eradicate <br />invasive species such as salt cedar, which can consume up to 200 gallons of water per day per tree, <br />along water bodies in the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. The proposed <br />legislation directs the Secretary of the Army, through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in <br />consultation with the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior, to establish a pilot program to <br />evaluate feasible technologies and methods for controlling or eradicating non-native phreatophytic <br />vegetation. The proposed legislation authorizes the development of pilot projects in Arizona, <br />Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah, which test the utilization of herbicides, bio-control <br />measures (e.g., bugs, goats, etc.), and mechanical means. The legislation authorizes the use of <br />expertise within academic institutions within each of the states. <br /> <br />Additionally, the legislation provides up to $7,000,000 per pilot project, and requires <br />monitoring and research activities after the project has been implemented. Each of the projects is <br />to be developed as a scientific experiment and compared to control methods. The legislation also <br />requires that a comprehensive database be developed related to all past, current, and proposed future <br />research related to non-native phreatophyte controls. <br /> <br />This legislation, if successful, may provide benefit to the Lower Colorado River Multi- <br />Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP). As you are aware, the existing Lower Colorado River <br />riparian habitat is largely dominated by salt cedar. In fact, virtually all of the nesting willow <br />flycatchers along the Lower Colorado River nest in stands of salt cedar adjacent to the mainstream <br />or backwaters. Consequently, it is important to understand the ecology of salt cedar and <br />relationships to the endangered neo-tropical migrant bird species. Until such time that native <br />riparian vegetation, such as cottonwood and willow can be successfully revegetated, existing stands <br />of salt cedar along the Lower Colorado River should be managed for avian and terrestrial species. <br /> <br />I believe that California should consider requesting that the bill's sponsors consider the <br />inclusion of the State of Cali fomi a in the project planning area. Also, it may be important to suggest <br />that the LCR MSCP be designated as the process for developing and implementing one, or more, <br />pilot or demonstration projects along the Lower Colorado River. I have directed Board staff to <br />further research these issues, and will continue to discuss this issue with the Board at future <br />meetings. <br /> <br />6 <br />