Fallbrook water project reaches U.S. Senate

Fallbrook Public Utility District director Milt Davies testified before the United States Senate April 24 on the proposed Santa Margarita River “con-junctive use” project. The local river project is a joint effort with the U.S. Marine Corps, Camp Pendleton, and it proposes to use both underground and surface water for the benefit of Fallbrook and the Base.

Water would be diverted from the river and allowed to settle into underground aquifers, mostly in the winter months. Then, as temperatures rise or demand increases, water would be pumped back out and treated to the highest standards by reverse osmosis. It will then be distributed to the Base and Fallbrook customers.

If the federal bill supporting the project, H.R. 29, is signed into law this year by President Bush, it will bring to a close over 80 years of water-rights disputes on the Santa Margarita River.

“Environmentally, this project is favorable to all parties,” director Davies said during his testimony. The original project proposed building a dam on the river. For years damming up the river has been a hindrance to the success of the project.

“By letting the river flow freely, it preserves needed habitat for wild species, replenishes beach sand, and provides hiking and riding trails for local residents,” said FPUD director Keith Battle.

New water for San Diego County

The project would produce approximately 16,000 acre-feet of water per year. An acre-foot equals approximately 325,000 gallons, or enough water for two familes of four per year. About half that would be “new” water for San Diego County. This “new” water would lessen the demand on imported water brought into the county from Northern California and the Colorado River. The project would supply 100 percent of Camp Pendleton’s needs and up to 40 percent of FPUD’s water needs.

How the bill got started

The bill was first sintroduced by Congressman Darrell Issa. Through Senator Diane Feinstein’s assistance, the bill advanced into the Senate Energy and Water Committee. Davies and fellow directors, along with FPUD staff, have actively pursued this project for more than seven years.

“With the help of former Congressman Ron Packard, we have finally moved this into the Senate for its first hearing,” said FPUD General Manager Keith Lewinger. The bill passed through the House of Representatives for the last three Congressional sessions. If it is approved this time, it will authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to provide the supervision and construction responsibility for the joint project. FPUD’s estimated share of the project will be more economical than paying the rising cost of imported water purchased from the San Diego County Water Authority.

“In the long run, it will be cheaper to repay the Bureau of Reclamation for FPUD’s portion of the project’s water than to buy increasingly expensive water from the County Water Authority,” said FPUD Board President Bert Hayden.