San Diego County Water Authority

San Diego, CA: (May-08-07) The Imperial Valley had filed civil charges against San Diego County water leaders claiming that the county's historic 2003 water transfer deal, to buy billions of gallons of water from valley farmers, had hurt Imperial Valley. Water Authority and irrigation district officials have been arguing without resolution over the issue for two years. Irrigation district officials said the Water Authority should have to pay up to $170 million for economic harm created by farmers having to take farmland out of production. An independent 2004 economic study disputed that notion. In a settlement reached, the long standing dispute was resolved when San Diego County water leaders agreed to pay the Imperial Irrigation District $40 million over the next 10 years. The irrigation district agreed to chip in $10 million to cover economic harm felt by farmers and the agricultural industry, and to take future responsibility for any additional harm. The two agencies began formal arbitration hearings in court, but chose to settle at the eleventh hour instead to avoid the costs of protracted litigation. [NORTH COUNTY TIMES: WATER DISPUTE]

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Published on May-11-07