Posted on 05/24/2003 1:25:57 PM PDT by CedarDave
May 23, 2003Irrigation District To Release Water Regardless Of Consequences
The Associated Press
CARLSBAD — A water dispute among southeastern New Mexico farmers, environmentalists and federal agencies is brewing on the Pecos River.
Carlsbad Irrigation District Manager Tom Davis plans to release water from Fort Sumner Reservoir next month, regardless of whether it's approved by federal officials.
If Davis can't reach a compromise with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about the release, he said there could be a standoff at the reservoir gates. He added that he hopes it doesn't come to that.
The Carlsbad district stores its water at Fort Sumner Reservoir in DeBaca County. The bureau controls the reservoir and its facilities.
If the problem isn't settled by the end of next week, Davis said he will defy the two agencies and order his dam tender to release 20,000 acre-feet of water for farmers downstream.
"They can call in the National Guard, and I may leave handcuffed, but I'm going to see that our farmers get their water," Davis said.
A bureau official told Davis last week that the agency will not allow the release because a federal court directive to the bureau and Fish and Wildlife in December has yet to be followed.
Davis said the problem stems from a lawsuit filed by Forest Guardians against the bureau for allegedly not complying with the Endangered Species Act.
"The judge ordered that the (bureau) conduct a biological assessment, meaning they had to formulate a plan and show the court how they plan to operate the reservoir in 2003," Davis said.
The Santa Fe-based environmental group accused the bureau of not allowing enough water into the Pecos River, endangering the bluntnose shiner's existence. The shiner is listed as a threatened species.
Davis said the bureau has complied with the order, but the judge also ordered the Fish and Wildlife Service to issue a no-jeopardy biological opinion on the bureau's biological assessment, and that has yet to be done.
Ken Maxey, area manager for the Bureau of Reclamation's Albuquerque area office, said he is "cautiously optimistic" the issue will be resolved soon. However, the agency will not allow any water released until the Fish and Wildlife Service issues its biological opinion.
"We are required to get the Fish and Wildlife Service assessment on our water operations on the Pecos," Maxey said. "As part of that, we have to provide them some information on some options we have on how we can meet the river flows for the bluntnose shiner."
Copyright 2003 Albuquerque Journal
We use to have the saying in Artesia, New Mexico "flush the toilet Carlsbad needs the water". This was due to the fact we were upstream from Carlsbad and our sewer dumped into the Pecos. I think they have solved that now by having a reclamation plant. Hey Cedar Dave you think Home Security will be making a bid to buy Hobbs next since they have Playa?
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