Editorial: Ruling on water compact faces lengthy appeal

When a Sacramento judge signaled last month that he would likely throw out the series of complex agreements reached in 2003 that provided a major new supply of water from the Colorado River for San Diego County, we argued that it was no time to panic. The judge might change his mind after a final hearing, experts advised. If he didn’t, the decision would be appealed. And if that didn’t work, there were still other ways to fix the agreements to satisfy the courts.

Now that the judge has conducted the final hearing, did not change his mind and this week made his tentative ruling a reality, we still argue that there is no reason to panic. A top executive with the San Diego County Water Authority still argues that the judge’s decision is “flat out wrong” and “absolutely” will be appealed. And if the lower court judge’s decision is ultimately upheld on appeal, the water exec still says there are ways to fix it, though he declined to say what those remedies might be.

At stake is enough water to supply 300,000 San Diego County homes every year. That can’t help but make us nervous. Even if the water is still flowing.