CWA endorses Santa Margarita River Conjunctive use project bill

The San Diego County Water Authority endorsed H.R. 29, a Federal bill which would authorize the Santa Margarita River Conjunctive Use Project.

The CWA board vote May 24 adopts a position of support for the bill introduced by Representative Darrell Issa. The Santa Margarita River Conjunctive Use Project would use natural and enhanced flows in the Santa Margarita River to enhance the recharge of groundwater basins and would provide up to 18,000 acre feet per year for Camp Pendleton and the Fallbrook Public Utility District.

H.R. 29 allows the U.S. Secretary of Interior to authorize construction of the project after FPUD and the Department of the Navy have entered into contracts to repay equitable and appropriation portions to the United States, state Bureau of Reclamation permits have been issued for FPUD and the Department of the Navy, FPUD waives any prior claims of water rights in excess of the agreed amount, and the Secretary of the Interior determines that the project has economic, environmental, and engineering feasibility. Upon completion of the project the Department of the Navy will repay the portion of the construction, operation, and maintenance costs determined to reflect the extent to which Camp Pendleton benefits from the project while FPUD would repay its fair portion, and a memorandum of agreement between the Department of the Navy, FPUD, and the Secretary of the Interior will determine whether the project will be operated by the Department of the Interior, FPUD, or a mutually-agreed third party.

The agreement would allocate 60 percent of the project’s yield to the Department of the Navy and 40 percent to FPUD, although if the Navy does not have an immediate need for the entirety of their portion temporary contracts for the sale and delivery of the excess water may be executed. FPUD would have the first right to any excess water.

H.R. 29 also authorizes appropriations of $60 million, which is the current estimated construction cost, and also authorizes money which may be required to operate and maintain the project.

Issa’s bill had been introduced in 2005 as H.R. 125 but was not adopted during the 2005-06 Congressional session.