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Shasta County Considering Water Buy From McConnell Foundation

North State Public Radio

Published March 15, 2016 at 9:59 AM PDT

Water may be ample right now, but Shasta County officials are considering a hedge.

Slapped with curtailments and shortages last year, the board of supervisors today considers a deal to secure a backup supply from the McConnell Foundation.

The deal would secure 250-acre feet of water from the foundation. The foundation has more senior water rights than the Shasta County Water Agency, a public entity.

Under California water law, those with the oldest claims trump newcomers. When supplies run short, entities with more recent rights are often forced to do with less. That’s exactly what happened over the last two summers. In 2014, the agency received half of its contracted amount. Last summer it got only a quarter.

McConnell obtained senior rights in a deal with the former Townsend Flat Water Ditch Company. The company’s rights date back to the 19^th century.

The water would serve as a back-up supply should federal officials again reduce Central Valley Project allocations.