HIS HONOR, SONNY BONO
I greatly enjoyed “Bono of the Desert,” by Alice Kahn (Aug. 7)--with one exception. Kahn mentioned that Coachella Valley water is pumped from wells replenished periodically from the Colorado River “courtesy” of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Metropolitan and the Coachella Valley Water District have a unique contractual arrangement whereby Metropolitan is exchanging Colorado River water for water from Northern California that Coachella has entitlements to. The water is exchanged gallon for gallon because it is physically easier for Metropolitan to obtain Northern California water and deliver Colorado River water to Coachella via the Colorado River Aqueduct.
In many ways, this arrangement reflects the innovative thinking necessary to supply water to the arid and semi-arid regions of Southern California and explains why we still have adequate water supplies in this, the second year of a statewide drought.
A. B. (BUCK) CATLIN
CHAIRMAN, WATER ADVISORY
COMMITTEE OF ORANGE COUNTY
COUNCILMAN, CITY OF FULLERTON
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
