Los Angeles water agency trying to purchase Delta islands

[KamaAina]

http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_28854089/los-angeles-water-agency-trying-to-purchase-delta-islands

A giant Southern California water district is discussing the purchase of four Delta islands, including Webb and Holland tracts in Contra Costa County, in what critics say is an attempt to jump-start the controversial Delta tunnels project to send water to Los Angeles.

The Metropolitan Water District's real asset and property management committee is scheduled to meet behind closed doors Tuesday in Los Angeles to discuss the purchase of 37 parcels of Contra Costa land -- Webb and Holland tracts -- and 35 parcels of San Joaquin land -- Bouldin and Bacon islands.

The Delta Wetlands Project, a public-private partnership that previously bought the parcels from private landowners, had proposed an agreement to provide water storage on the land, and return two of the islands to wetland habitat. However, this potential sale has critics comparing it to the infamous Owens Valley water wars where a thirsty and burgeoning city of Los Angeles in the early 1900s built an aqueduct and acquired water rights through unsavory means.

"I find this really alarming," said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Restore the Delta executive director. "Farmers, communities, and fishing groups that live in the Bay-Delta Estuary region feel like the potential takeover of land and water rights by the Metropolitan Water District of California is akin to what happened to landowners in the Owens Valley who found their communities and water taken secretly by Los Angeles interests."

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Nothing like shedding a little sunlight onto these shenanigans! n/t

[FreakinDJ]

2. How many lakes did they destroy in Owens Valley

Plenty of of dry lake beds there now where they used to have ferry service to cross them

[olddots]

3. these fools want to remake the movie China Town

[KamaAina]

5. It's already been done

it was called "The Two Jakes".

[Lordquinton]

4. LA can GTFO my CCC

I drive over the Benicia Bridge every day and you can't even see the salt line in the water anymore.