A hearing on the Motion for Summary Judgement for the Augustin Plains Ranch LLC water grab has been set for Wednesday September 19, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the Catron County Courthouse in Reserve (subject to date/time change).
Read the Memorandum in Support of Protestants' Motion for Summary Judgment [PDF] filed by Bruce Frederick, Staff Attorney at New Mexico Environmental Law Center.
Showing posts with label environmental justice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label environmental justice. Show all posts
Friday, August 10, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
San Augustin Water Grab: A Battle Won But Not the War
A Battle Won But Not the War
Cathie R. Eisen
Walking Water Consulting
PO Box 133
Nogal, New Mexico
April 8, 2012
Across the southern states a battle is raging for our most precious resource. The value of water has reached a premium, and it will only increase with time. As the cities and counties of the west continue to grow, so does the need for new water sources to support their ever increasing demands. While the quest for oil is on the forefront of everyone's mind, dollar for dollar, water is by far more valuable. We can live without oil if necessary, but we must have water to survive. During the past few years, several applications have been submitted to the State Engineers Office in New Mexico for the purpose of tapping into the deeper aquifers, waters which were previously deemed unusable and were until now unprotected from such requests. One by one, they have been protested and denied. This is not the end of the effort. Future legislation will support these requests as our cities continue to grow along with the residential demand for additional supplies; water for sanitary and domestic water use is and always will be a priority to developers and communities. The health and welfare of the masses could easily trump the livelihood of the rural ranchers. They are few, rural residents are many. More at Glenwood Gazette...
Cathie R. Eisen
Walking Water Consulting
PO Box 133
Nogal, New Mexico
April 8, 2012
Across the southern states a battle is raging for our most precious resource. The value of water has reached a premium, and it will only increase with time. As the cities and counties of the west continue to grow, so does the need for new water sources to support their ever increasing demands. While the quest for oil is on the forefront of everyone's mind, dollar for dollar, water is by far more valuable. We can live without oil if necessary, but we must have water to survive. During the past few years, several applications have been submitted to the State Engineers Office in New Mexico for the purpose of tapping into the deeper aquifers, waters which were previously deemed unusable and were until now unprotected from such requests. One by one, they have been protested and denied. This is not the end of the effort. Future legislation will support these requests as our cities continue to grow along with the residential demand for additional supplies; water for sanitary and domestic water use is and always will be a priority to developers and communities. The health and welfare of the masses could easily trump the livelihood of the rural ranchers. They are few, rural residents are many. More at Glenwood Gazette...
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Open letter to NM Gov. Susana Martinez on AWSA projects and protection of true stakeholders
Dear Governor Martinez:
The Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) has been authorized by the state of New Mexico to assume responsibility for the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and replacement of projects for waters designated available by the Arizona Water Settlements Act (AWSA). To that end, people of the four counties of southwestern New Mexico for which the AWSA waters are available have been working since 2004 to develop projects to submit to ISC.
It is the ISC’s mandate to apply the best available science to consideration of these projects, taking into account the ecological impacts of the proposed water uses while also considering the historic uses of and future demands for water in the Gila Basin, and the traditions, cultures and customs affecting those uses.
Unfortunately, what is and should be a relatively straightforward legal process has been distorted beyond functionality.... [read the rest]
Please write your own letter to Gov. Martinez and the ISC!
The Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) has been authorized by the state of New Mexico to assume responsibility for the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and replacement of projects for waters designated available by the Arizona Water Settlements Act (AWSA). To that end, people of the four counties of southwestern New Mexico for which the AWSA waters are available have been working since 2004 to develop projects to submit to ISC.
It is the ISC’s mandate to apply the best available science to consideration of these projects, taking into account the ecological impacts of the proposed water uses while also considering the historic uses of and future demands for water in the Gila Basin, and the traditions, cultures and customs affecting those uses.
Unfortunately, what is and should be a relatively straightforward legal process has been distorted beyond functionality.... [read the rest]
Please write your own letter to Gov. Martinez and the ISC!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
AWSA New Mexico water for New Mexicans
This is a call for help. Please pass it on if you agree! Please act if you are willing!
The Arizona Water Settlements Act of 2004 allows for an additional average of 14,000 acre feet of water to be developed in New Mexico from the Gila and San Francisco Rivers as well as $66M up to $128M for project development. People have been working since 2004 to develop plans for use of the water and money in the four county region of Catron, Grant, Luna and Hidalgo counties. The Interstate Stream Commission has developed a two tier application procedure for projects (actually Tier II is still under development).
It is important to understand that by law this additional water use cannot impact the downstream water rights. Since the water cannot cut into the downstream flow so as to reduce what people downstream are entitled to, it is obvious that the only way to get the water is to trap it during times of extreme flow, such as during flood or snow melt.
The problem is that the environmental community objects to dams and diversions on the Gila or San Francisco River. The result would be that there is no way to keep water in New Mexico and the water continues on to Arizona. This is not water that would be taken from wildlife habitat or farmers downstream - it is water that is flooding away to either just evaporate or end up in the ocean. Environmental groups are urging their members to send letters to the State Engineer, the Interstate Stream Commission and others to promote their cause. I probably don’t need to tell you the importance of keeping the water here, but suffice it to say that water = life.
If we are to live here in Southwest NM, we must have water, too. Why should only people downstream of us have it to fill swimming pools, wash cars and water lawns while many of us are not even allowed to have faucets outside our houses to fill a dog's dish? If we let this opportunity go now, it will probably never recur.
Without going into the Act any deeper at this time, I am simply asking to you to send an email letter to Mr. Estevan Lopez, Director of the Interstate Stream Commission, Mr. Jim Dunlap, Chairman of the Interstate Stream Commission, to Mr. John D’Antonio, State Engineer, and/or to Governor Susana Martinez. I am pasting an example letter you can work from or develop your own. Note: this letter was supplied by Vance Lee, Chairman of the Gila/San Francisco Water Commission. More info can be obtained at http://www.awsaplanning.com/AWSA_Home.html
Mr. Lopez: estevan.lopez@state.nm.us
Mr. Dunlap: Waterjim1@live.com (email address corrected 05/20/11)
Mr. D’Antonio: john.dantonio@state.nm.us
Governor Martinez: Susana.martinez2@state.nm.us
-------------------- sample email letter ---------------
May 19, 2011
Mr. Estevan Lopez, Director
New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission
Dear Mr. Lopez:
In regards to the Arizona Water Settlements Act and the effort of the Interstate Stream Commission to determine use of the additional water and money, please consider this as a request for the Commission to make every effort to base its decisions on keeping the additional water in Southwest New Mexico. It is unacceptable to continue to allow water that can be made available for use in New Mexico to continue to flow downstream into Arizona. I am confident that there will be acceptable proposals via the application procedure in place to develop the additional water and to put it to beneficial use.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[address]
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
SAWC annual meeting May 21
The annual meeting of the San Augustin Water Coalition is being held on Saturday, May 21 this year. Food will be offered from 4:00-5:15. The meeting starts at 5:30 PM at the Datil Elementary School gymnasium.
AGENDA
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SAN AUGUSTIN WATER COALITION
MAY 21, 2011
Mission Statement: The purpose for which SAWC is organized is to protect the water resources of the San Augustin and adjacent water basins, and the public welfare and conservation of water associated with those water resources, now and in the future.
Registration
Registration is for the purpose of communication after the meeting. The Board will attempt to keep everyone informed of the progress of the Augustin Plains Ranch LLC application. Personal information, including email address, is kept confidential.
- Business Meeting. Election to the Board. Nominations for three three-year positions will be taken from the floor.
- Keynote Speakers
- Steve Harris, Rio Grande Restoration
- Caren Cowan, Executive Director, NMCGA
- Don Tripp, State Representative, District 49
- Richard McGuire, Catron County Commissioner
- Questions from the audience: Please write your questions on your card to be collected by a volunteer.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
New Catron County water grab resource
Forwarded from San Augustin Water Coalition (SAWC):
There is a new website that you will find interesting. Our friends and supporters up north are helping to spread the word around the state about our water grab fight and about other serious water issues. newmexicowaterandpolitics.wordpress.com
There is a new website that you will find interesting. Our friends and supporters up north are helping to spread the word around the state about our water grab fight and about other serious water issues. newmexicowaterandpolitics.wordpress.com
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
SAWC Annual meeting May 22
The annual meeting of the San Augustin Water Coalition will be May 22 and we expect to discuss the OSE Docketing Letter. Location: Datil Elementary School gym, 6PM. There will be a brief business meeting followed by a candidates forum.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Water Coalition Meeting April 14
San Augustin Water Coalition
Meeting of the Board
April 14, 2009
Datil Fire Department
6PM
Agenda
I. Call to order
II. Additions or changes to Agenda by Board Members
III. Reading and acceptance of minutes of previous meeting
IV. Treasurer’s report
V. Old Business
a. IRS tax exempt status
b. Water Dialogue
c. Reports from Board Members
VI. New Business
a. Catron County Fair
b. Annual Meeting
c. Socorro County Land Use Commission meeting
d. Film Maker
Meeting of the Board
April 14, 2009
Datil Fire Department
6PM
Agenda
I. Call to order
II. Additions or changes to Agenda by Board Members
III. Reading and acceptance of minutes of previous meeting
IV. Treasurer’s report
V. Old Business
a. IRS tax exempt status
b. Water Dialogue
c. Reports from Board Members
VI. New Business
a. Catron County Fair
b. Annual Meeting
c. Socorro County Land Use Commission meeting
d. Film Maker
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