U.S. Water News Online
SAN DIEGO -- Six Western states that share the Colorado River with California have told Gov. Gray Davis that a landmark deal aimed at weaning the state from its overuse of the river's water is unacceptable.
Representatives of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming signed a letter to Davis outlining their problems with the complex deal under consideration by four Southern California water agencies.
Approval by the six states is crucial to California's hopes of reaching the long-awaited Colorado River-sharing deal sought by the U.S. Interior Department.
If the 75-year deal is approved, California will be able to continue drawing surplus water for 15 years while it gradually reduces its reliance on the Colorado River.
The six states must be satisfied before the federal government approves the deal, said Bennett Raley, the assistant Interior secretary responsible for Western water issues.
The six states found that the agreement has exit clauses ``that will undermine its permanence or viability'' and expressed fears the deal might be subject to ``endless litigation.'' A key element of the deal is a massive water transfer from Imperial Valley farmers to San Diego.
The letter added that state funding appeared to be in limbo for parts of the deal, such as the construction of a concrete lining to conserve water in the canal that carries water to the Imperial Valley.
A spokesman for Davis, whose aides helped broker a revised deal between the four water agencies in March, welcomed the letter and said it was simply a matter of ``clarification.''
``Overall, we view this as a positive step,'' said the spokesman, Byron Tucker. ``Now that we have their issues in writing, we feel we'll be able to avoid potential roadblocks in the future.''
The letter's author, Herbert R. Guenther, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, did not return a call seeking comment.
Interior Secretary Gale Norton is punishing California for its failure to reach an agreement by cutting its draw from the river by 15 percent. The state was supposed to have a deal last year.
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