THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW MEXICO

LWVNM STUDY OF WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND, 2007-9

At its 2007 state Convention, the League of Women Voters of New Mexico approved a two-year study of Water Supply and Demand. The League would like to develop a statewide position on the allocation of available water among competing uses, grounded in a basic understanding of NM water availability and water law. A more detailed description of the study is on p. 6 of the Spring issue of La Palabra.

Basic references

Introduction to New Mexico Water History and Terminology, NM Legislative Council Service Information Bulletin, November 21, 2002.

Alleta Belin, Consuela Bokum and Frank Titus (2002). Taking Charge of Our Water Destiny: A Water Management Policy Guide for New Mexico in the 21st Century. 1000 Friends of New Mexico. (PDF, 856 KB)

State Water Plan and Regional Water Plans at the Office of the State Engineer web site.

San Juan/Chama project information at Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority web site.

Water and Drought in the 21st Century (slides, PDF format, 1.8 MB), overview by UNM Professor David Gutzler. See also the report of the NMENV Technical Work Group on Potential Effects of Climate Change in New Mexico (PDF, 148 KB), The Future is Drying Up by Jon Gertner, published in the New York Times Magazine on October 19, 2007, and the National Resources Defense Council report In Hot Water: Water Management Strategies to Weather the Effects of Global Warming.

Sandoval County Water Issues (slides, PDF format, 1.1 MB), presentation by Bob Wessely. A detailed water budget can be found at the web site of the Middle Rio Grande Water Assembly, as well as a synopsis of the Middle Rio Grande Regional Water Plan.

Water and Land Use

A. Dan Tarlock and Sarah B. Van de Wetering, 2007. Water and Western Growth.

Matthew McKinney, 2003. Linking Growth and Land Use to Water Supply.

Existing positions of NM local Leagues

Most of the NM Leagues have studied water issues in the past but the resulting positions may not be applied at the state level without statewide consensus. Here are the existing local positions:

LWV of Albuquerque/Bernalillo County: Under Local Government: Water, LWVABC supports coordinated regional water planning.

LWV of Greater Las Cruces (1996, 1997, 2001): The League of Women Voters of Greater Las Cruces supports policies that maintain the viability of ground and surface water supply in the region of the Mesilla Bolson. We recognize the need for urgency of action to protect and conserve our useable water supply. While recognizing the imperative of equitable resolution among competing water users, we urge expeditious conclusion to the ongoing adjudication and supply inventory processes.

We support communication among the various governmental agencies, as well as Elephant Butte Irrigation District, leading to clear definitions of responsibilities of each entity for managing water resources. While recognizing the continuous need to update data and technology, we urge prompt implementation of plans to utilize the substantial information already available.

We support water conservation regulations with realistic penalties for non-compliance, coupled with a progressive water-use fee schedule; and continuing public education on the need to make water choices.

Excerpt from LWVGLC position on Land Use Planning: The LWV/GLC supports preservation of agricultural land and open spaces within Dona Ana County. Balance must be struck between public and private interests. Because water quantity and quality are global concerns of particular urgency in our arid region, LWV/GLC strongly supports protection of water supplies in every phase of planning.

LWV of Santa Fe County (1999): The League supports regional planning for water with the goal being elimination of competition for water and cost-efficiency in the harvesting and delivery of water. The League urges the City and County to examine the benefits of turning the two water companies into one regional water company with the possibility of an independent governing Board.

In addition the League supports:

• Linking development to the available water supply.
• Adoption of a drought management program with a specific program of water conservation to be pursued under all supply conditions.

LWV of Los Alamos: LWVLA is currently studying Los Alamos County water supply and demand.

LWV of the United States: Excerpt from the LWVUS position on resource management: To assure the future availability of essential resources, government policies must promote stewardship of natural resources. Policies that promote resource conservation are a fundamental part of such stewardship. Resources such as water and soil should be protected. Consumption of nonrenewable resources should be minimized. Beneficiaries should pay the costs for water, land and energy development projects. Reclamation and reuse of natural resources should be encouraged.

Concerning Water Resources, the League supports:

• water resource programs and policies that reflect the interrelationships of water quality, water quantity, ground-water and surface water and that address the potential depletion or pollution of water supplies;
• measures to reduce water pollution from direct point source discharges and from indirect nonpoint sources;
• policies to achieve water quality essential for maintaining species populations and diversity, including measures to protect lakes, estuaries, wetlands and instream flows;
• stringent controls to protect the quality of current and potential drinking water supplies, including protection of watersheds for surface supplies and of recharge areas for groundwater.