It appears the 2003 Quantification Settlement Agreement’s days in court may never end.
A county suit against the water transfer agreement was finally dismissed earlier this year. While that was good, it effectively lifted a stay on other cases that were waiting in the wings.
And the floodgates, as it were, have opened.
Last week, two more injunctions against the 75-year water deal were filed in state courts. The Imperial Irrigation District, which is still trying to have the QSA validated by the state, will be opposing the injunctions.
One injunction was filed by Protect Our Water and Environmental Rights, or POWER, a group which used to include IID Director Mike Abatti. Earlier this year Abatti removed himself from the QSA lawsuits. The second is from the Imperial Group.
The POWER lawsuit alleges that the IID violated the state’s Environmental Quality Act and that continuing the QSA will harm the Valley’s environment. The Imperial Group says the agreement does not fully address air quality issues caused by a dying Salton Sea.
To anyone who is paying attention, these are not new issues. We understand that some people were skeptical of the QSA from the beginning and continue to be. We also understand that this pact was negotiated and agreed upon by the principal parties long ago.
Because of that, these injunctions and lawsuits must stop. These suits do nothing to move the process and the Valley forward. They are simply expensive roadblocks that will continue to slow and even stall a process that should be full underway by now.
We also want what is best for the Valley, and that is not continuing to fight this agreement. Does anyone think for a moment that our larger neighbors who will be getting water from us will let this deal die in court? No, they won’t. They will become even more adamant about gaining control over the water.
In effect, this is poking a tiger with a stick. If we continue to see this happen, the Imperial Valley will definitely be bitten.
Even if these most recent injunctions are not successful, more are undoubtedly on the way. We continue to hope that we all eventually realize the QSA is a done deal.
" You are so right about the wasted time, money, and effort from POWER and the Imperial Group. If these guys had put this much energy into solving the IID's problems instead of being the problem, we would have the respect and cooperation of others using the Colorado River water. "
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T-CART wrote on Oct 28, 2007 11:32 AM: