KXO RADIO - Imperial Irrigation District Board takes action on SDI

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Imperial Irrigation District Board takes action on SDI

Todays is : Friday, 09 January 2009

Written by George Gale
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
(Imperial Irrigation District Directors adopt resolution for Equitable Distribution)….The action was not unanimous. Tuesday the Directors approved the resolution and the revised regulations for the Equitable Distribution of Water. The regulations call for a 5.25-acre feet of water apportionment to Farmers in 2009, with a water bank system for those who need more. The bank is created by those who need less than the 5.25 acre feet amount. Earlier in the year District staff reported a better than 50 percent chance of a supply demand imbalance for water in 2009. In August, the Directors declared the SDI, which put in motion the plans for equitable distribution. Director Stella Mendoza said the apportionment of water sounded a lot like allocation to the gate. She said that was too close to privatizing the water, and she could not support the proposal. Mendoza and Director Mike Abatti voted against the resolution and regulations. They were approved on a 3-2 vote. Board President John Pierre Menvielle conceded the program was a Pilot Program, and would have to be tweaked through-out the year.