Clouds Over the Water

With its aggressive claim to additional supplies from the Colorado River, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California risks a water war that could doom promising efforts to solve the state’s most critical water problems. In a stroke, the giant water wholesaler has brought down the wrath of farmers, the federal government and legislative critics who are considering a restructuring--and probable weakening--of the agency.

Superficially, the MWD’s action seems consistent with its major goal: to assure Southern California a reliable long-range water supply and, with it, sound economic growth. But in fact it may be counterproductive. The region’s water future could be tied up in the courts for years or even be taken over by the state.

Tensions reached such a high point that Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt broke off his efforts to mediate water allocation issues among the MWD, the Imperial Irrigation District and the Coachella Valley Irrigation District. Normally a patient man, the exasperated Babbitt was issuing a wake-up call to MWD officials.

The breakdown was precipitated by an MWD suggestion that Babbitt use his powers as Colorado River water master to “pursue a more appropriate allocation” to meet the district’s future needs. That is a benign way of saying the district wants to take some of the water that historically has gone to agriculture and instead supply it to the cities. The idea was received with hostility by the farmers, who view their right to 75% of California’s Colorado River supply as sacred. “A warlike action,” declared one irate farm leader. Babbitt said he had no such power in any event.

The action comes during a transition at Metropolitan. Phillip J. Pace of Montebello has taken over as chairman while the board searches for a general manager to succeed John Woodraska, who resigned last fall. At the same time, a state Senate committee chaired by Sen. David Kelley (R-Idyllwild) has resumed its hearings into management and oversight of the MWD. Kelley told a recent hearing that MWD actions over the past several years “have cast doubt on the ability of MWD’s management and board of directors to properly carry out their duties.”

Metropolitan may have a legitimate concern that Imperial is wasting water and is trying to sell its water at inflated prices. Moreover, Metropolitan officials believe that everyone with a water deal is interested only in the MWD’s deep pockets.

If there is waste, it must be stopped. And it’s in the interests of all to have an open, competitive water market in California. But MWD officials are mistaken if they believe they can get more water from the Colorado River merely by demanding it. The proper course is to return to the negotiating table.

The MWD board’s more urgent priority should be to find the best possible general manager and not to burden him or her with micromanaging and the kinds of policies that have divided the West’s water world into opposing camps. Metropolitan needs a visionary professional who can heal the agency’s wounds and put it on a solid, consistent course. With anything less, the MWD is headed for more trouble.