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<br />3379 <br /> <br />(Jensen/Walter Supplement 2003, p. 6 and Figure 6.6, p. 7). Jensen/Walter conclude <br />from the data that the effect of increasing water supply, with little change in crop <br />evapotranspiration, is increased tailwater quantities (Id. Figure 6,7, p. 8). <br /> <br />The historic diversions of Colorado River water by lID (Table of lID diversions in Factor <br />9; see also MET: Scott, 2003, Table I) demonstrate that the average diversions for 1990 <br />to 2002 (3,lO6,386 acre-feet) represent all / /% increase over the average diversions from <br />1980-1989 (2,788,839 acre-feet), Increased diversions resulted in a significant increase <br />of tail water flows from lID (Jensen/Walter Supplement, June 2003, p. 12) <br /> <br />As also shown from Ihe tabular information in Factor 9, the increasing trends in <br />diversions over the periotl of time after a variety of conservation projects had been <br />phased in over the period 1987 to 1990 under the IID-MWD Water Conservation <br />Program. This program is estimated to save liD over 100,000 acre- feet per year and <br />should have resulted in a COll1lllensurate reduction in diversions, while allowing lID to <br />continue to serve the needs of its farmers, <br /> <br />Jensen and Walter indicated in 1997 that the trends in reported data from liD show that <br />the distribution system improvements and general operating practices in lID have <br />reduced some conveyance losses (Jensen/Walter 1997, p, 35). Project management as it <br />relates to water orders, records of water orders and monitoring of amounts of water <br />delivered relative to actual water needs appears to have declined in effectiveness since <br />1987 (ld,), Jensen/Walter conclusions related to water management, as described in their <br />2002 report, were that the increasing trends in diversions "... indicates that on- farm water <br />management has changed little over the past 13 tol4 years in liD at a time when available <br />irrigation technology has been improving". <br /> <br />Another aspect of liD's Operating Practices has been raised as part of this determination. <br />The Imperial Group have raised issues in their submittals that suggest liD diversions <br />have remained high because they produce substantial revenues from the generation of <br />electricity at liD hydroelectric facilities (Maloney, 2003, p, 2). The Imperial Group <br />represents interests that own or fann approximately 30,000 acres of land in the Imperial <br />Valley, The relationship between diversion amounts and power generation benefits was <br />noted by the SWRCB in 1984, which in 1984 lOO,OOO acre- feel of water would generate <br />$464,900 in revenue for the lID, (Decision 1600, p. 7) Revenue from power generation <br />has increased significantly in the past two decades. liD itself asserts that reductions in <br />diversLons will result in substantial loss of revenue from generatLon (Jesse Silva <br />Declaration, Feb, 2003, p. 36). Based on available infomlation, Reclamation cannot <br />make a detelmlllation as to whether these assel1ions by the Imperial Group are accurate. <br />Generating electricity, as a by-product of the delivery of such amount of water as is <br />necessary for irrigation and potable purposes is pennissible under liD's contract <br />However, ordering and diverting water in excess of irrigation and potable use <br />requirements for the purpose of generating electricity is nol authorized under liD's <br /> <br />July 2, 2003 <br /> <br />28 <br /> <br />Detenninations and Recommendations <br />For lID - Calendar Year 2003 <br />