We appreciate the inquiries we've received so far about our ad rates, and encourage you to send an e-mail to mailto:ads@capenq.com if you haven't already done so. You'll receive an automated response with our rates and circulation info. That's the first step to spreading your business or organization's message among hundreds of your fellow subscribers!

And why not let your voice be heard by your fellow subscribers? Send all letters to mailto:letters@capenq.com.

Thanks for your support! And now, on to this week's action...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- For generations, the battle over water has defined California's political landscape. There are few more bitterly fought political wars in this state than those over water, and as the final hours of the 1997-98 legislative session grind to a close, water again has become the dominant issue.

California's fundamental water problem is simply put and it comes in two parts.

First, is north vs. south. The southern half of the state, where most Californians live, is largely arid. The northern half of the state, more sparsely populated, has most of the water. How do we get more water to the south, when the north is reluctant to provide it and the south believes it is entitled to it?

Second, is south vs. south. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, headquartered in Los Angeles, is a huge water wholesaler. It takes water from the State Water Project and the Colorado River Aqueduct, among other sources, and distributes it to dozens of water agencies throughout the south. They, in turn, distribute it to their local water districts.

The relationship between the MWD and its regional and local agencies is fraught with tension, particularly in dry years, as districts scramble for supplies. The local agencies seek autonomy and the MWD, whose directors include officials from the local districts, is reluctant to grant it.

It is the second half of California's perennial water war, the south vs. south, that is at issue in the final day of the Legislature's session.

The MWD and the San Diego County Water Authority -- the MWD's largest customer -- have been at loggerheads for years over San Diego's efforts to obtain an independent supply of water. Several months ago, San Diego worked out a 30-year accord with the Imperial Irrigation District to transfer some 200,000 acre-feet of water each year from Imperial to San Diego. The excess water was conserved by the IID's farmers, and the IID, understandably, wanted to make money off it.

San Diego was more than happy to oblige, viewing the water as a means of reducing the community's dependency on the MWD. The Imperial water would account for about a third of San Diego's consumption.

The problem, however, was getting the water to San Diego: MWD owns the system over which the water would travel, and MWD and San Diego became locked in a bitter dispute over how much San Diego would have to pay the Los Angeles wholesaler in order to use the system. At one point, MWD sought to levy charges against San Diego that would have negated the financial benefits to the latter of purchasing the cheaper water from Imperial.

Finally, after years of negotiations, a deal was worked out between the water agencies. But the core of the agreement was $235 million in state money in the form of a voter-approved bond that would be used to pay for improvements to two canals in the Imperial Valley and boost groundwater storage.

Without the money, the deal falls apart, and it is this $235 million that is the crux of the 11th-hour negotiations in Sacramento.

The money originally was included in a $1.67 billion bond package, but that fell apart in closed-door, acrimonious discussions between Gov. Pete Wilson and the leaders of the Legislature, and the deal was declared dead.

But as the final stretch of the Legislature's session got under way, a new plan emerged: Strip the $235 million from the rest of the bond package and vote on it separately.

As the adjournment deadline of midnight Monday neared, there was even talk of the state picking up the $235 million tab out of its own funds and bypassing the electorate entirely. But that requires legislative approval in both houses, and northern lawmakers are unlikely to agree to that plan unless there is something in it for them. New reservoirs? Protections for the delta east of San Francisco?

Exactly what the north will get is the focus of frenetic closed-door negotiations at the highest levels of California's government. The nature of those is still unknown, but one thing is certain. Sometime before midnight Monday Californians will learn what's in the deal.

The question is, will they like it?

Looking for a poster-size map of California Legislative districts, complete with Legislator photos around the border? Our Wall Map, now only $9.95, may be just what you're looking for! Check out http://www.capenq.com/brochure/wallmap.html for more information.

*** 1998 Directory Prices Reduced ***

That's right -- not only are our '97 products reduced, but now our '98 products are as well! The latest price information is available exclusively via e-mail: request the price list by sending a message to mailto:info@capenq.com.

*** Secure Ordering ***

All '98 publications are available online. Place your SECURE online order today! Surf on over to http://www.capenq.com/order.