MWD Acts to Buy Water From Farmers
The governing board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California gave tentative approval to a proposal to spend up to $337 million to buy water from farmers in the Palo Verde Valley in eastern Riverside County.
Under the 35-year proposal, farmers would leave up to 29% of their land fallow so water that would otherwise be used to irrigate crops will be sent to the MWD. Only farmers who agree to sell water will be required to fallow.
The MWD has pledged to pay farmers a total of $84 million to sign up for the program. The rest of the cost will be annual payments.
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