"Water Deal...."
Water Grab In an interesting development, it was reported in the SacBee, today, that the feds are negotiating a trade for ownership of all of the water in San Luis Reservoir with the Westlands Water District. So Far, these negotiations have been carried out in closed session. The proposed deal is said to require Westlands to assume responsibility for "....cleaning up a multibillion-dollar irrigation drainage mess." (remember Selenium and Kesterson ) The water district hasn't specified how it would carry out this requirement and why should it, it's water customers/users were responsible for cleaning up the "....mess..." in the first place. They dumped it off on the feds for funding thru the EPA super fund.
In addition, the deal may relieve Westlands from their obligation to repay the feds for building the reservoir and canals. Oh, and the proposed deal could make Westlands exempt from "....acreage limits meant to preserve small family farms,...."
One of the principals in these negotiations is our own Senior Senator, Dianne Feinstein. Forunately, both parties agree that any compromise will be months away. That gives us time to review this proposal and express your opinion (pro/con) to the Senator's office.
This type of backroom negotiation (water grab) is precisely why I expressed my cynical outlook about the process under the peripheral canal.
"America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy but won't cross the street to vote."
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