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jfleck on the Imperial Valley

Posted by: Maven on October 29, 2007 at 11:10 pm

Here’s a post from jfleck over at the Inkstain blog, who writes about the Imperial Valley:

An article last week in the Imperial Valley Press outlines the plan to restrict, for “the first time in recent history”, water for farmers served by the massive Imperial Irrigation District:

“Farmers would have 5.13 acre-feet of water available per acre of farmed land, down from the average of six acre-feet currently.”

These are the people who control 3.1 million acre feet per year of Colorado River Water – the largest single chunk of Colorado water on anyone’s table. The Valley was quite literally uninhabitable desert when the IID was formed in 1911. Brawley, in the heart of the Imperial Valley, averages 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain a year. But with the All America Canal flowing into the valley from the Colorado River, it’s an agricultural paradise. If you’re in the United States, chances are good that the next bit of lettuce you eat comes from there.

But even in the Imperial Valley, there is a growing tension between growing municipal demand and existing agriculture. Imperial County proclaims itself “California’s growth area”. Even they are shifting water from farms to cities.

To read jfleck’s post on the Inkstain blog, click here.

I think the Imperial Valley is a fascinating story, from it’s inception to today. One of my favorite books,which I recommend to anyone who wants to get to know the Imperial Valley better, is Salt Dreams. The description of how the Salton Sea was created and the efforts to plug the breach and stop the flood is truly fabulous. One of these days, I will write an Aquafornia briefing on the Imperial Valley and the QSA. It’s an interesting and convoluted tale!

October 29, 2007 · Filed Under Imperial Valley

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