Advisory board’s role debated at IID meeting

EL CENTRO — The role of the Water Conservation Advisory Board was called into question by some Imperial Irrigation District directors Tuesday as they discussed a change of bylaws for the advisory group.

The gist of the discussion is whether the advisory group’s input is limited to the matter of saving water, or whether it has a voice in what should be done with that water once it’s saved.

WCAB Chairman Mike McBroom wants the bylaw revisions to expand the board’s scope to include input on operations, drainage and water resources development.

Division 2 Director JB Hamby contends such changes exceed the scope of the WCAB’s intended purpose. He said water resources development was designed to keep the water in the county to maximize the amount of water for items like irrigation, leeching and the Salton Sea.

He said there are a few members on the WCAB who interpret water resources development in a different way, specifically selling water to another agency, something he opposes.

McBroom, who has spent eight years on the WCAB, said the board’s 15 members are the ones who decide on the advice given to the IID board. He said the members have discussed things involving water, including canals, delivery service and water planning.

He said the bylaw change is to better clarify on what the board is doing.

Hamby was concerned about comments McBroom made about water being appurtenant to land, saying that is a topic that belongs in the realm of the district, the courts and Congress.

McBroom said the perceptions Hamby has are erroneous. He added the WCAB has tried to be a helpful organization to the IID board.

“We are passionate about what we do,” he said, reiterating the WCAB wants more clarity on what they are already doing.

Hamby responded by saying it is not the purview of the organization to make a recommendation to IID on who owns the water.

Division 5 Director Norma Sierra Galindo said previous IID boards have delved into these issues for years. She added the advisory committee should not be gagged.

“I would like to know the role they want on water conservation and farming,” she said. “It’s not our role to tell them what they can and can’t tell us. Our role is to listen.”

Hamby said he does not want to hear about water transfers from the advisory board.

“It behooves us to listen,” Galindo said. “Don’t gag them. It’s a losing proposition. The committee is concerned about the future of the Valley.”

The committee, she said, has a right to tell them what they think, but it’s up to the directors to agree or disagree.

Division 4 Director Javier Gonzalez wanted to be sure the bylaw change would be taken back to the WCAB for corrections before being returned to the IID again for a vote. He was assured this would happen.

The board on Tuesday gave direction to General Manager Henry Martinez to send the proposed bylaw change back to the WCAB for edits. Since the WCAB agenda has already been posted for April, this would have to take place at its May meeting.

Hanks said it’s important to have the WCAB bring the edits back with the exact language. He added the key name in the title of the group is conservation, so that is what its role should be.

“Maybe I will appoint someone else if you are going to change (the rules),” Hanks said.