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Calexico files suit against All-American canal lining project

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 23, 2007 at 4:44 pm

This from the San Francisco Chronicle:

The city [Calexico] lodged a new legal challenge in a federal appeals court opposing efforts to line a border canal with cement to prevent water seepage. In a lawsuit filed Monday with the Ninth District Court of Appeals, Calexico claims environmental and economic impacts on the city were not sufficiently considered before the court dismissed litigation in April, allowing the lining to be installed. The city wants the court to reopen hearings on the issue.

City officials said Tuesday that they believed their suit would be joined by a Mexican civic organization, Consejo Desarollo Economico De Mexicali, that has challenged the canal project on the grounds that it would have a dire effect on the Mexican economy.

The cement lining project, which is expected to move forward in June, is meant to stop the seepage of some 67,000 acre-feet of water annually that leaks into Mexico. CDEM has claimed the city of Mexicali, on the Mexican side of the border, has a historical right to that water.

For the full text of the story from the San Francisco Chronicle, click here.

In a somewhat contradictory story, the Imperial Valley Press Online filed this report today:

… But for some Calexico City Council members there was confusion Tuesday as to the city’s role in the latest litigation. Councilman John Renison said he thought the city’s involvement in the litigation would be secondary to other parties, who since 2005 have challenged the AAC project. “My understanding was that the city was lending its name only and we were not to be a party,” Renison said, adding: “I felt our involvement was minimal.”

Councilwoman Carmen Durazo shared Renison’s sentiment, stating she would have to speak to the city’s attorney to clarify the action the city has taken.

Actually, the city is the only litigant in a filing Monday with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

For the full text of the Imperial Valley Press Online story, click here.

May 23, 2007 · Filed Under All-American Canal

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