The Stories of the Valley’s Farming History Are Inspiring

In this historical photo, crops are transported from a Vessey & Co. field near Holtville. The history of agriculture in the Imperial Valley is filled with stories of survival, hardship, family bonds and success. Photo Courtesy of Vessey & Co.

Recently, this blog writer had a chance to interview farmers in the Imperial Valley whose farming operations are 100 years old and, in some cases, even older—over 115 years old. It’s fascinating to listen to their family stories and hear the tales of grandparents and great-grandparents who chose to travel to the Valley by wagon when agriculture and ranching were just beginning in the region. Imagine the Imperial Valley in the early parts of the 1900s, at that time still an untamed frontier that offered the promise of land but a harsh environment in which to forge a new life. Yet, they still made their way to the

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Salton Sea Authority Celebrates 30 Years of Advocating for the Sea

Members of the Salton Sea Authority (SSA) Board of Directors and management staff are pictured with past executive directors during an event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the SSA held at the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla tribal land in Riverside County on Nov. 16. Pictured left to right are Bob Hargraves, SSA attorney, Rick Daniels, past executive director, Gina Dockstader, SSA board member, Altrena Santillanes, SSA board president, Patick O’Dowd, current executive director, Castulo Estrada, SSA board vice president, and Phil Rosentrater, past executive director.

On November 16, the Salton Sea Authority (SSA) and community leaders came together on Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla tribal land in Mecca, California, to mark the SSA’s 30th anniversary in an event that saw past and present executive directors and current board members share their experiences advocating for the sea. The SSA was formed in 1993 as a state joint powers authority

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QSA Recognized for its Importance to California, the Colorado River During 20th Anniversary Event in San Diego

Colorado River Board of California Vice Chair and San Diego County Water Authority Director Jim Madaffer (center) introduces Imperial Irrigation District General Manager Jamie Asbury (right) during the San Diego County Water Authority’s QSA 20th anniversary celebration held Nov. 8 in San Diego. Joining Asbury and Madaffer (from left to right) are San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Dan Denham, Coachella Valley Water District General Manager Jim Barrett, and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California General Manager Adel Hagekhalil.

On Wednesday, Nov. 8., representatives from throughout the San Diego region and Southern California gathered in San Diego to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 2003 Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA), an historic set of agreements that has enabled California to live within its Colorado River apportionment and helped manage the river for all users. Water leaders talked of how the QSA was not only a model of how

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