WET AND WILD

With an average rainfall of only 10 inches per year, San Diego requires more than 130 billion gallons of water per year to support its population and to maintain its postcard appearance. No less than five pipelines running south from Los Angeles keep San Diego from withering and dying. San Diego gets its water from the mountains of Northern California and the Colorado River--by way of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), Los Angeles. Because San Diego has always been at the mercy of MWD concerning its water, officials in San Diego have begun to explore other means of importing water to the region. This article describes an option to ship water from the Imperial Valley, a water-rich area of farmers that controls more Colorado River water than any other single group of users. Issues with the Imperial Irrigation District are addressed.