FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ENR FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1996 (202) 514-2008 TDD (202) 514-1888 U.S. SETTLES 70-YEAR DISPUTE BETWEEN CALIFORNIA TRIBE AND WATER DISTRICTS TRIBE RECEIVES $14.2 MILLION FOR LONG-TIME FLOODING OF ITS LANDS WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The United States announced today that it has resolved a 70-year dispute over an Indian tribe's loss of land due to repeated flooding from nearby agricultural lands in Southern California. The Torres-Martinez tribe, that lives in the Imperial Valley east of San Diego, will receive $14.2 million for the long- running and massive flooding of a large chunk of its land which now lies under the Salton Sea, the largest inland sea in California. The land has been inundated due to irrigation conducted by the Imperial Irrigation District and the Coachella Valley Water District. The Torres-Martinez will get $4 million from the water districts and $10.2 million from the United States, under an agreement between the Justice Department and the Department of Interior, together with representatives of the tribe and the Imperial and Coachella water districts. The tribe is authorized to purchase 11,800 acres -- representing the amount of flooded tribal land -- in close proximity to its current reservation lands for future economic development. The land purchased by the tribe will be taken into trust by the United States. In exchange, the water districts will receive a permanent easement to flood the Salton Sea up to a certain level. The settlement resolves the tribe's lawsuit against the water districts and any and all future claims. "This agreement rights an historical wrong and provides the tribe an opportunity to make significant strides toward economic self-sufficiency," said Lois J. Schiffer, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "It's good news for all parties -- the tribe, the water districts and the United States -- ending a contentious 14-year lawsuit and providing a blueprint for final resolution." "I am delighted that this Administration has been able to work with the tribe and all parties to settle a long-standing injustice," Secretary Bruce Babbitt said. "In matters like these that have been litigated for years, it is gratifying to see this settlement move funds directly to the Torres-Martinez Band of Mission Indians instead of languishing with courts and lawyers. I am hopeful that Congress will move quickly to pass legislation that will allow the tribe to finally reach a beneficial resolution." The Salton Sea was formed in 1905 after the Colorado River broke through a dam and filled the Salton Sink. The Salton Sink is a large area that lies 278 feet below sea level, only four feet higher than Death Valley, the lowest point in the United States. More than 11,000 acres of Torres-Martinez land were flooded. Since then, water drainage and runoff from the districts' irrigation of neighboring agricultural lands has kept these lands under water. The two water districts serve the Imperial and Coachella Valleys of California which are known for their rich agricultural produce that supplies the United States year-round. Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, who signed the agreement yesterday, said, "This settlement will provide the tribe an opportunity to obtain land and provide the financial capability for them to move forward to initiate various economic development projects proposed over the past several years. This agreement is significant because it reflects cooperation among the federal, state, local and tribal governments." The United States and the tribe first sued the water districts in 1982. On July 17, 1992, a U.S. District Court awarded the tribe $3 million in damages but did not prevent the water districts from future flooding. Since then, the Justice Department has used alternative dispute resolution -- a technique to resolve lawsuits more quickly and efficiently -- to bring a final agreement. The agreement requires legislation in Congress to implement various provisions of the settlement, including terms and conditions under which land acquired by the Tribe can be put to use. Congressman Sonny Bono, who represents the district, introduced this legislation on June 13. ### 96-281