Imperial Valley takes its Colorado River senior water rights seriously
Drought and population growth have taken their toll on the Colorado River, pushing it to historic lows.
As we work together with our neighboring states and the federal government on a long-term solution, many eyes are focused on the Imperial Valley, because of its senior water rights. And as much as we believe in upholding the rule of law, we are equally committed to being responsible water users and doing our part to keep the river healthy enough to meet the needs of all seven states.
The Imperial Irrigation District and individual farmers have spent over $500 million for system and on-farm conservation investments since 2003. These funds paid for aggressive water conservation measures throughout the Imperial Valley and have resulted in hundreds of thousands of acre-feet of water conserved every year.
We take our responsibility as senior water rights holders seriously and continuously work to ensure that we not only conserve as much as possible but also put the water we have to beneficial use for not just the Imperial Valley, but urban users in Southern California and consumers throughout the country.
So, what happens to Colorado River water that makes its way to the Imperial Valley?
We grow much of the supply of winter vegetables our country depends on. When winter comes to the rest of the United States, the Imperial Valley is producing at its peak. And, because of the unique soil and weather conditions, we grow significantly more per acre and per drop of water, than elsewhere. Eliminating or diminishing Imperial Valley agriculture is a risk not just for our families, but also for the nation.
Much of our conserved water is sent to families in urban Southern California. According to the Water Education Foundation, the 500,000 acre-feet of water conserved each year by the Imperial Valley supplies, on average, enough water for the domestic needs of 4.3 million Southern California people annually. Water for those families must come from somewhere, and our conservation efforts take pressure off other parts of the system.
It’s also important to note that the Colorado River is the sole source of water for the Imperial Valley, which has been the case for more than 100 years. Other parts of the country have options − when there is less surface water available, they can utilize groundwater and when groundwater is scarce, they can lean more heavily on surface water. Imperial Valley communities, many of which are already disadvantaged, don’t have those options.
In part because this water supply is literally the difference between survival and devastation of the Imperial Valley economy, we clearly understand the urgency of the current situation. And because of that, California was the first among all seven states to commit additional water savings each year to help stabilize the Colorado River supply. The Colorado River Board of California to Reclamation has stepped up, pledging additional voluntary conservation that collectively totals up to 750,000 acre-feet of conservation per year through 2026.
Pointing fingers is easy. The Imperial Valley has a proven track record of managing its supply of Colorado River water in a way that produces benefits well beyond its borders. We look forward to working with our Colorado River partners to find solutions that will sustain the river over the long term for all who depend on it.
Stephen Benson is a farmer in California’s Imperial Valley, a board member of Imperial Valley Water (IVH2O), former board member of the Imperial Irrigation District and a current board member of the Family Farm Alliance and Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association. He can be reached at sbenson@benson-farms.com
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Imperial Valley takes its Colorado River senior water rights seriously
