U.S. Water News Online
SANTA FE, N.M. -- Texas and New Mexico will open talks to try to resolve water problems on the Rio Grande and the Pecos River, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced.
The governors, in a joint statement issued at the Border Governors Conference here, provided no timetable on the talks and offered only a broad outline of the water issues.
John D'Antonio, state engineer for New Mexico and its top water official, said the talks would include how to better manage the rivers and the delivery of water to meet interstate compact obligations during times of drought.
One possibility, he said, is to work out a system to give New Mexico more flexibility in the schedule for delivering the required water downstream to Texas users during a drought.
"It's really a way to stay out of any litigation," D'Antonio said.
Another goal is to develop an operating agreement for irrigation districts in Texas and New Mexico involving water stored in Elephant Butte Reservoir in central New Mexico.
D'Antonio said water experts from both states would explore the effects of increased groundwater pumping designed to meet growth in the El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, areas. The talks also will address Texas' concerns about salinity in the Rio Grande, he said.
Richardson said two years ago when he was running for governor that he would try to develop talks with Texas about mutual water interests.
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