The Metropolitan Water District Tuesday unveiled a two- year plan in which Imperial County farmers will be paid not to grow crops on a portion of their land so that water can be shipped to the Southland.

Beginning in April, farmers in the southeastern corner of California will voluntarily skip their spring and summer plantings and transfer saved Colorado River water to Southern California, under the pilot program approved in January and revised Tuesday by MWD’s board of directors.The plan will provide up to 4,570 acre-feet of transferable water each year, according to MWD board Chairman Randy Record.