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-Editorial
The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Board of Directors approved a landmark conservation agreement with the federal government. The agreement, known as the System Conservation Implementation Agreement (SCIA), aims to conserve up to 700,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Mead through 2026. This initiative is designed to support the drought-stricken Colorado River by maintaining essential water levels.
The SCIA, approved in collaboration with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, will fund various conservation programs from 2024 to 2026. These programs are expected to conserve up to 300,000 acre-feet of water annually, which will remain in Lake Mead to bolster the Colorado River’s flow. Key components of the agreement include expanding IID’s existing On-Farm Efficiency Conservation Program (OFECP) and introducing a new Deficit Irrigation Program (DIP). The OFECP encourages agricultural water users to adopt conservation practices, while the DIP supports the temporary idling of certain crops such as Alfalfa, Bermuda grass, and Klein grass. This strategy is anticipated to release nearly $250 million in federal funds for Salton Sea restoration, accelerating dust suppression and aquatic habitat projects.
“The decisive action taken by our Board today demonstrates how the District and our water users work together to make meaningful contributions to the Colorado River and the Salton Sea,” said Gina Dockstader, IID Director and Salton Sea Authority President. “We value the collaborative relationship with the Bureau of Reclamation that has allowed us to craft an agreement we can all support and make a difference.”
IID Vice Chairman JB Hamby, also the Colorado River Commissioner for California, emphasized the significance of the agreement, stating, “IID’s efforts provide an example for other states and regions to follow as we plan for a drier future in the Colorado River basin. IID has cleared enormous hurdles to make this deal happen — there is no excuse for inaction anywhere along the river.”
The agreement is part of a broader initiative endorsed by the seven Colorado River Basin states. In August 2022, Congress authorized the Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated $4 billion to the Bureau of Reclamation for drought mitigation in the western United States, with a focus on the Colorado River Basin. Subsequently, the Bureau of Reclamation established the Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program. This program funds short-term water conservation efforts to ensure that conserved water remains in the Colorado River system.
The IID agreement represents the largest volumetric SCIA in the Colorado River Basin. When combined with the 2023 SCIA, IID’s efforts will surpass 800,000 acre-feet of conservation. This achievement contributes to California’s commitment to conserve up to 1.6 million acre-feet of water, as outlined in the May 2023 Lower Basin Plan.
The 2024 – 2026 SCIA will significantly bolster IID’s water conservation efforts. When integrated with IID’s existing 2003 Quantification Settlement Agreement programs, the total conservation will amount to up to 750,000 acre-feet per year, representing about 24 percent of IID’s annual Colorado River entitlement. This conservation effort aligns with IID’s San Diego County Water Authority water transfer program.
IID has conserved over 7.7 million acre-feet of water since 2003, with 1.5 million acre-feet saved through the On-Farm Efficiency Conservation Program (OFECP) since 2013. In 2023, IID conserved 106,111 acre-feet of System Conservation Water, which was retained in Lake Mead under a previous System Conservation Implementation Agreement (SCIA). That same year, IID achieved over 500,000 acre-feet of conservation, including 215,382 acre-feet through the OFECP.
Imperial Valley farmers, supported by IID, continually enhance water conservation efforts through advanced irrigation technologies and sustainable practices, including sprinklers, drip systems, field reconfiguration, precision land-leveling, and tailwater return systems. The Imperial Valley remains a crucial agricultural hub for California and the Colorado River Basin, with agriculture supporting one in every six local jobs and serving as the backbone of the regional economy.
