BRAWLEY — Imperial Irrigation District officials discussed their proposed water apportionment plan with the Imperial Valley group that it will impact the most, the agricultural community.
The IID is grappling with how to pay back to the Colorado River system two years of water overconsumption while maintaining its water transfer obligations stipulated by the Quantification Settlement Agreement. Between 62,000 acre-feet of overrun water that the IID needs to pay back this year, and water transfers to San Diego and the Coachella Valley, the IID needs to conserve some 258,000 acre-feet of water in 2013. That number is expected to climb to 377,000 acre-feet of water in 2014 if overrun estimates of 156,000 acre-feet of water hold true.
The plan has farmers limited to 5.45 acre-feet of water per eligible acre rather than 5.24 acre-feet that was previously reported. IID General Manager Kevin Kelley said this increase comes from the estimated 100,000 acre-feet of water that the district spills every year, that are being factored into the plan.
The water apportionment plan will likely consolidate farmers’ eligible acres into “farm units,” which should allow growers to use their allocation of water at their discretion.
Additionally, the plan calls for the establishment of a water clearinghouse, which water users will run themselves. The goal is to allow farmers to efficiently trade water among each other.
“There will be rigorous debate on how it’s done,” Kelley said. “We’ll be able to move water from areas of low use to areas of high use,” he added.
Officials tried to address the agricultural community’s concerns about this work in progress.
One person said that people that have installed conservation measures on their fields, like water recovery systems, will be punished by the apportionment program.
“You’re penalizing people that have been good stewards,” he said.
That, however, may not be the case.
We’re trying to figure out how we can set up a program where you can apply for conserved water down the road,” Director Steve Benson said. “If you’re doing anything to conserve water, document it,” he added.
Two more water apportionment meetings are scheduled for today, and one for Friday.
Staff Writer Antoine Abou-Diwan can be reached at 760-337-3454 or aabou-diwan@ivpressonline.com
If you go
What Apportionment plan stakeholder meetings
When 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. today
Where Farm Bureau Boardroom, 1,000 Broadway, El Centro
When 10 a.m. Friday
Where Holtville City Hall, 121 W. Fifth St., Holtville
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