6. Our plan does not call for radical changes. On the contrary, we simply insist on conservation and efficiency. We would ban the construction of any new dams or canals and in return wane federal activity in the southwest. To be fair to Mexico, we would entitle that country to 2 million acre-feet instead of 1.5 thus ending the debate over the concrete walls for southern California canals (they could build them and not reimburse Mexico because Mexico would be getting an extra 500,000 acre-feet per year.
Within the U.S., the 1922 Compact would be updated so that California could not get excess water for free. It would have to pay for it. That money could allow states like Arizona and Nevada to improve programs like the Central Arizona Project and preserve water for Las Vegas.
Furthermore, farming should be regulated. The federal government should increase the price at which it sells water to farmers to deter the increase in farming. Additionally, the farmers should be encouraged to let more land lay follow. A test program between the Metropolitan Water District and the Palo Verde Valley let 30,000 acres lay follow, allowing the water to go to LA. As the Metropolitan Water District s web page notes, there was no serious economic disruption, especially since the MWD compensated farmers at $620 per fallow acre. Our plan would increase this concept, forcing each agricultural district to let many acres lay follow in return for compensation. It should be noted that by diverting farm water for cities, we are not saying LA and other places should be given free reign.
Instead, by changing the Compact, the Department of Interior will be saying: if you want to use our water you should abide by some regulations. LA should be forced to abide by population constraints. In fact, even though Californian cities would get excess water (now for a fee) and water from farming districts, the state s overall apportionment from the river should be decreased. Currently, California gets over 5 million acre-feet per year. It must be decreased to 4.6 million -acre feet. This can be done thru efficiency improvements:
1. improve farming efficiency, with cities paying the cost and getting the excess in return
2. letting farmland lay fallow, with saved water going to cities
3. allowing states like Nevada and Arizona to sell excess to California, so the earned money can go to improving things like the Central Arizona Project.
4. imposing building and urban sprawl restrictions on cities so the cities demands do not go crazy
5. institute a joint federal-Californian program to get water from the pacific and desalinate it. As Mr. Cheyne said, such a program would be extremely expensive. But that is why the federal government would provide much of the funding.
In the end, with California s decreased allotment and increased efficiency in projects like the Central Arizona Project, we can save water. Also, water will now come from the Pacific Ocean. We would also deter more farming all over the region by increasing the water prices. We would also implement a Bureau of Reclamation project to save the surplus water from being evaporated.
In short, no radical changes just improvements in efficiency. And we would be fair to Mexico. This reflects our group s position that the current situation is not really unfair and not in crisis it just needs improvement. And with involvement by all parties, that can be accomplished.
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