IID declares water shortage By DARREN SIMON, Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 19, 2007 10:55 PM PDT
With a growing demand and limited supplies, the Imperial Irrigation District board on Tuesday declared there simply isn’t enough water to go around at least through 2008.
By a unanimous vote the board said there is an imbalance in water supplies and in doing so took the first step toward initiating an unprecedented local water rationing program, albeit no one with the district has used the word rationing.
Instead, terms like water apportionment, water budgeting, water allocation and equitable distribution were the terms used Tuesday to describe what will be a change in the way the district manages water.
“During its June 12 regular meeting, this board heard from staff regarding the conditions that would be necessary to trigger a supply/demand imbalance declaration within the IID service area,” IID General Manager Charles Hosken said.
“Today we are asking you to make such a declaration ” Hosken said.
The declaration sets the stage for district staff to develop a specific plan for rationing water not only to agricultural users, but also to cities and industrial users.
Any such plan would go into effect likely Jan. 1 and would be meant to last a year. After a year, the board would have to revisit the issue and vote again if it deems it necessary to continue the program.
The board and public both spoke to the water rationing program in comments that point to controversies to come as the water rationing program is implemented.
The methodology for any water rationing program calls on each acre of land to receive an equal portion of water at least within the farming community.
Methodology would also have to be developed for providing water to cities and industrial users.
Hosken said it’s a necessary step as IID, which for decades had prided itself on having ample water to meet industrial needs, now faces a challenging period where water supplies are limited.
“Times have changed,” Hosken said.
He added with new geothermal companies looking to locate in the Valley and other industrial water users, the district has to find a way to meet their need without cutting in to farmer needs.
“We have to get ahead of that,” Hosken said, “Right now we are not.”
Some were critical of the steps the board was taking.
Local resident Benny Andres, who has been outspoken on water issues, said the program the board is considering would allocate water to the canal headgates.
Some have raised concerns that allocating water equates to handing over the district’s water rights, which it holds in trust, to farmers.
“Call it what you like, but that’s what it is allocating to the gates,” Andres said.
He added: “There will be a political price to pay for unwise decisions.”
Director James Hanks said that may be the case, but the district has to take some action in light of the fact the district is going into its second year of using more than its share of Colorado River water.
“I think we need to make a move now before there is a shortage on the river,” he said.
“It may be politically incorrect; there may be consequences,” but the board has to take action, he added.
" the U-T page on this already has comments such as "boycott Imperial Valley fruits" for stealing the water. "
hunnybear85 wrote on Jun 20, 2007 10:49 AM:
" So what else is new? There are far far too many special interests at the IID and we let it go on. "
robamor wrote on Jun 20, 2007 5:48 AM:
" IID- Enron by the desert. "
beckyg wrote on Jun 20, 2007 4:53 AM:
" It's all political. The filthy rich in San Diego have influence. What they need to do is build a desalination plant to convert sea water into fresh water. Of course that means they would have to sacrifice some beach front property to build it on. "
polo87 wrote on Jun 20, 2007 12:50 AM:
" It looks that San Diego is taking our water away. But people will say no, they are not taking it away. They are transferring our water to their ducts. Soon this desert will really be a desert. "
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tangodancer wrote on Jun 20, 2007 1:48 PM: