WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Friday, August 15, 2008, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne will be the keynote speaker at a ceremony celebrating passage of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Settlement Act (Public Law 110-297). The legislation reflects a negotiated resolution of longstanding litigation over water rights and sustainable water management in the over-drafted San Jacinto River Basin of Southern California.
Joining the Secretary will be U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack, the chief sponsor
of the settlement legislation; Soboba Tribal Council Chairman Robert Salgado;
the presidents of local and regional water agencies involved in the agreement;
San Jacinto Mayor Jim Ayres; Hemet Mayor Marc Searl; and other local leaders.
| Who: | Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack Soboba Tribal Council Chairman Robert Salgado San Jacinto Mayor Jim Ayres Hemet Mayor Marc Searl Timothy F. Brick, Chairman, Board of Directors, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California David J Slawson, President, Eastern Metropolitan Water District Frank Douglas Marshall III , President, Lake Hemet Municipal District |
| What: | Marking passage of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Settlement Act and Media Availability |
| When: | 11:30 a.m., Aug. 15, 2008. Media Availability at 12:20 p.m. |
| Where: | The Country Club at Soboba Spring 1020 Soboba Road San Jacinto, California 92583 951-654-4300 |
| Media: | All credentialed media are invited to attend the event and participate
in the media availability. Individual interviews may be arranged by calling the contacts listed at top of this advisory. |