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HISTORIC RAIN, YET DROUGHT REMAINS <br /> <br /> <br />ORANGE COUNTY GRAND JURY 2022 I 2023 Page 39 of 57 <br />The largest water banking project <br />underway that affects Orange <br />County is the Santa Ana River <br />Conservation and Conjunctive <br />Use Program (SARCCUP). It is a <br />regional program that involves <br />several agencies in Orange <br />County, Riverside County, and <br />San Bernardino County. While a <br />logical program to undertake, <br />there are technical and <br />distribution issues that must be <br />worked out and these items may <br />take several years. <br /> <br />A more controversial banking program is <br />the Cadiz project. The Cadiz Water <br />Project is a water supply project to <br />manage the groundwater basin underlying <br />a portion of the Cadiz and Fenner Valleys <br />in California’s Mojave Desert. At least one <br />water agency in Orange County has <br />considered this program as a potential <br />source of water to meet their needs. The <br />program has been promoted since 1997 <br />and has yet to move forward. There are several environmental concerns with the <br />program and concerns about transferring water between basins, particularly one under <br />a desert. The Cadiz project currently is not viable supply of water. <br /> <br />There are criticisms of water banking and its effect on local communities. A Georgetown <br />Environmental Law Review article in March 2022 stated, “While advocates of water <br />banking believe its market-based approach will efficiently allow a reduction of use of <br />water, especially during droughts, opponents may cite some examples of how letting the <br />market take over may be detrimental to local communities.” Such concerns are valid <br />and need to be considered prior to relying on water banking as the only solution to <br />ensure water supply during times of drought. <br /> <br />Purchase of water rights <br /> <br />Temporary transfers of water from one water user to another have been used <br />increasingly as a way of meeting statewide water demands, particularly in drought <br />years. This has been done through the purchase of water rights. There are numerous <br />articles concerning the possible negative effects of this practice, including the effects on <br />less wealthy communities and agricultural. Due to these concerns, this practice should <br />be limited. Farms in western Arizona are growing alfalfa – one of the most water-