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Dec? 69? "NEW" WATER FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AS AN ELEMENT OF THE PACIFIC SOUTHWEST WATER PLAN Of the 4.4. million acre feet of water annually allotted to California under the Colorado River Compact the Metropolitan Water District is entitled to only 550,000 acre feet once Arizona and Nevada are using their full entitlements. Under California's Colorado River contracts with the Secretary of the Interior, 3,850,000 acre feet a year for agricultural purposes has first priority -- principally the Imperial Irrigation District. Under existing contracts theoretically Imperial can open up a large area for new irrigation if sufficient water is available. It has been estimated that a minimum 370,000 acre feet a year, of water can be salvaged by lining the All American and Coachella Canals. Under present arrangements, this salvaged water would largely go to Imperial for expanded irrigation. Considering the water crisis faced by the urban centers, it has been suggested that the Pacific Southwest Water Plan alter the present arrangement to use this salvaged water for MWD as follows: 1. Prohibit expansion of irrigation on federally owned lands by Imperial; 2. Compensate Imperial for any losses in repayment capacity, and desert land entrymen for valid rights if any; 3. Authorize lining of both canals and make this "new" water available to MWD.Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 14,272,512 byte