Metropolitan Water District and San Diego end battle over Colorado River water — and set price

The Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the San Diego County Water Authority announced Monday that they have settled a legal dispute spanning 15 years over the exchange of Colorado River water.

The agreement ends the long-standing litigation over fluctuating prices Metropolitan charged to the Water Authority to deliver water that the Water Authority purchased from the Imperial Irrigation District in 2003. The Water Authority also obtains water from the All-American and Coachella canals.

As part of the settlement, the Water Authority will pay a fixed price — starting next year at $671 per acre-foot — to Metropolitan for water transfers, though it will be adjusted annually for inflation.

The Water Authority will also be allowed to sell conserved water to Metropolitan or offer water to other agencies that are part of the MWD.

In a joint statement, leaders at both entities praised the conclusion of the years-long legal battle and said the settlement also “includes provisions to reduce the potential for future litigation, improve certainty in budgeting, and increase flexibility in efficiently managing water supplies.”

Water Authority Board Chair Nick Serrano said, “Ratepayers and water users across Southern California are the winners in this settlement. It provides a new revenue opportunity for San Diego, a new water supply opportunity for other communities, and greater budget certainty for the entire region.”

Metropolitan Board Chair Adán Ortega Jr. said, “For far too long, this legal battle sat at the center of Metropolitan’s relationship with the Water Authority. That era of conflict has finally come to an end and we can forge ahead, building a relationship based instead on cooperation and shared goals that will benefit the entire region.”