Risks beyond diminishing the supply of water
· Remaining water unsafe or undrinkable
· Saltwater intrusion
Subsidence
· Cracks in the earth
· Moving an entire city because it is sinking

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Great report from the New York Times
· Reflecting from 1800 to 1950
· Endless bounty of all resources
Rain and snow
· Rain refills aquifers in east
· Snowmelt feeds western rivers
Thirsty farms and growing urban areas tap aquifers
· Overused and under regulated
· Overuse causes subsidence which reduces aquifer capacity

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Points of Agreement
· Current operations not working
· Next set of rules should be interim
Where they disagree
· Upper Basin says Lower Basin exceeding allocations
· Lower Basin wants to include all upstream reservoirs

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Strange things happen
· Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
· Imperial Irrigation District
Role reversals
· Jeffrey Kightlinger now advising Imperial
· Imperial suddenly in mood to collaborate rather than demand

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Kickbacks or other forms of favors
· Not at State employee level
· Maybe elected officials
Such a sweet deal given to Fondomonte
· Low price on land rental
· All the water you can possibly use for free
Public employees encourage monitoring water use
· Nixed or ignored at the elected level
· Does this stink to you?

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A British newspaper reports on our drought
· Alfalfa is king
· Powell and Mead have risen to 36% of capacity from 28%
Our country is disconnected from food supply
· Forage crops can be converted to save water
· Farmers love alfalfa: it’s reliable with a steady demand
Need for alternatives
· Rotational crops
· Possibly hydroponics

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Jennifer Gimbel
· Extensive and impressive experience
· Shares thoughts and ideas
Discussion of Five Ideas
· Easier processes for farmers to sell saved water
· 1041 Regulations impacts and benefits to local citizens
· Strong agreement on Two Forks Reservoir
· Stop discouraging buy and dry
· Create special zones for buy and dry

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Ocean desalination plant being discussed
· Where’s the ocean?
· Straw into the northern tip of the Gulf of Mexico
Environmental and economic constraints
· $5 billion is a low-ball estimate
· Pipelines to cross national park and environmentally sensitive areas
Would you bet on this project?

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