Vista

The Vista Irrigation District has approved an agreement that could end a bitter and lengthy water-rights war between five Indian bands and two North County water districts.

The agreement, hammered out after months of negotiating and announced last week, would settle a lawsuit filed by the Mission Indians in 1969 over control of the Escondido Canal, which carries water from the San Luis Rey River across Indian land to Lake Wohlford in Escondido.

Under the settlement, the Indian bands would share local water supplies equally with the Vista district and the Escondido Mutual Water Co. Also, the federal government would supply the Indians with 20,000 acre-feet of surplus Northern California water annually.

Wednesday’s approval by Vista’s water board was the first of many actions necessary before the settlement becomes official. The Escondido district will consider the pact at a July 24 meeting. The settlement also requires the approval of the membership of each Indian band, various regional and state water agencies, and Congress.