Garamendi Calls for End to Water Dispute

Deputy Secretary of the Interior John Garamendi urged Gov. Pete Wilson on Thursday to exert pressure on Southern California water agencies to settle a dispute over potential new supplies of Colorado River water.

At stake, Garamendi said, is the ability to augment Southern California supplies by 600,000 to 800,000 acre-feet of water, about equal to the historical annual use by the city of Los Angeles.

The dispute involves proposed water trading or leasing by the Imperial Irrigation District to San Diego and efforts by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to negotiate with Nevada and Arizona for a share of their unused Colorado River supplies in coming years.

“This family fight in Southern California can be resolved,” said Garamendi, former California insurance commissioner and an unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1994. “It will take some leadership. That’s not happening.”

He added: “The deal is complex, and it will be controversial. But the common interest in Southern California is very strong.”

Garamendi’s comments drew an angry response from Wilson, who charged through a spokesman that they are political attacks from Democratic opponents.

“These are interesting comments coming from a frustrated bureaucrat and failed gubernatorial candidate,” said Sean Walsh, Wilson’s press secretary. “We should check his travel voucher and see if the Clinton presidential campaign is providing reimbursement for this trip.

“We are making progress on the water dispute issue and expect to have a successful resolution,” Walsh added. “Regrettably, it has been federal interference and micro-management that has slowed the process.”

Garamendi also said successful negotiation would assist in the solution of environmental problems in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a major source of water that is pumped to farms in the San Joaquin Valley and to businesses and homes throughout Southern California.

Since the San Diego County Water Authority is a part of the Metropolitan Water District, MWD officials have been upset with San Diego’s attempt to negotiate a purchase of water directly from the Imperial Irrigation District or farmers within the district. Any such deals should be made within the MWD structure, they have said.

Regarding the Colorado River, Wilson has written a letter to the MWD board directing the agency, which wholesales water throughout Southern California, to negotiate any interstate water transfers through the state Colorado River Board.

Wilson’s director of water resources, David Kennedy, has been actively involved in the negotiations.

Garamendi, who made his comments in a meeting with Southern California political writers, said he had not talked to Wilson directly about the dispute, but had discussed it with Douglas P. Wheeler, secretary of the state Resources Agency.

Garamendi also said he is leaving the door open to a possible run for governor again in 1998.

“I’m not closing any doors,” he said, adding, “A lot of things can happen before I have to make a decision about 1998.”

Times staff writer Dave Lesher in Sacramento contributed to this story.