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IID ahead of drought curve; QSA seen as protection: “The QSA puts us in a really safe place,” says official

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 7, 2008 at 9:03 am

From the Imperial Valley Press:

The declaration of a statewide drought this week has prompted water agencies to take action in imposing rationing and campaigns to conserve. It came as no surprise to Imperial Irrigation District officials who said Friday it is ahead of the curve when it comes to conservation.

But as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered immediate action to be taken by the Department of Water resources, among them is the facilitation of one thing IID officials have vowed never to do again: water transfers.

IID Legal Counsel Jeff Garber said Friday that the district’s participation in the controversial 2003 water pact, the Quantification Settlement Agreement, is the shelter from the water storm. “The QSA protects us from being attacked by some of the other agencies. It’s a shield for the next 45 to 75 years,” Garber said. “The QSA puts us in a really safe place.”

With the largest agriculture-to-urban water transfer already under way, IID General Manager Brian Brady said though transfers were emphasized by Schwarzenegger as a way to meet water needs in dry areas, IID is already on track. “There are major conservation elements in the QSA which IID is obligated to meet. We’re committed to capturing those conservation benefits,” Brady said.

The Imperial County Farm Bureau said that although the impact of drought in other parts of the state has not yet been felt in Imperial County, that could change over time. Crops abandoned or not produced in the San Joaquin Valley could put more pressure on Imperial County to make up the shortfall.

The Metropolitan Water District, a partner in the QSA, has already begun drawing on its reserve supplies to meet its needs. In the weeks to come the overarching Southern California district is ramping up conservation efforts in the six counties it serves. “We are rapidly entering a new and worrisome water era, highlighted by a record dry spring,” Timothy Brick, chairman of the MWD board of directors said. “There is no guarantee Southern California can replenish reserve supplies whenever this drought cycle ends.”

IID officials said although the drought declaration may bring knocks on the door, the board has vowed not to partake in future water transfers. The QSA, Brady said, is a critical component of protecting IID’s allotment of the Colorado River, among the top priorities of the state, from urban use. “The governor’s declaration puts an exclamation point on the importance of and the benefits of the QSA,” Brady said.

However, a pilot program for conservation attracted only 20 volunteers, rendering it useless. Brady said it is not indicative of Imperial Valley farmers willingness to conserve and that IID needed to reevaluate it’s outreach efforts.

Whether the drought in the state and the Colorado River basin will eventually stretch IID’s allotment to its limits remains to be seen. “Even with our strong water rights, there are no guarantees. Everyone is going to have to do their part to deal with this issue — the farmers, the cities, the politicians and even the environment,” Rothfleisch said.

Read the full text of this article from the Imperial Valley Press by clicking here.

June 7, 2008 · Filed Under Drought, Weather & Snowpack, Imperial Irrigation District & Imperial Valley