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Irrigation contractors agree to support San Joaquin River Restoration Act

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 19, 2008 at 7:52 am

From the Western Farm Press:

The major water districts in the San Joaquin Valley have thrown their support behind the controversial San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act after an agreement was reached to protect their water rights.

The San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority, Merced Irrigation District, the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Authority, the Merced, Turlock, Modesto, Oakdale and South San Joaquin Irrigation Districts, and Westlands Water District announced the River Restoration Act.

An agreement regarding amendments to the act that calls for water contract security for these “third party” water agencies has eliminated their concerns that other amendments of the act that would enable the legislation to move forward under congressional “pay-go” rules could result in water supply reductions for the third party water agencies.

“It was important that the third parties not be impacted by the latest amendments that were proposed by Sen. Feinstein on Sept. 26,” says Dan Nelson, executive director of the San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority. “After receiving the proposed amendments, the third parties identified four areas of impact, including protection of water rights, prevention of seepage impacts to lands adjacent to the river, additional fish barriers and no introduction of anadromous fish until mitigation measures are completed.

“The protection of existing water rights and contracts has always been a fundamental issue for the third parties — and one particular group, the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority, had to receive the legislative guarantee of no modification of their senior rights as set forth in their Exchange Contract before the legislation moved forward. This legislative guarantee is consistent with the settlement itself which provided the settlement would not have adverse effects on third parties.”

Read more from the Western Farm Press by clicking here.

November 19, 2008 · Filed Under San Joaquin River Restoration

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