WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE?
by Anna Crook
The Water and Natural Resource Committee completed a three day meeting in Las Vegas, NM. We toured Storrie Lake, one of their water reservoirs, and several acequais.
Water continues to be one of the hottest topics affecting the western United States. New Mexico's waters are threatened not only by the blunt nose shiner and the silvery minnow, but also from neighboring states who wish to obtain our precious supply of water.
The Pecos River compact we have with Texas is looking pretty scary. We have not had the rain or snowfall to fulfill our obligation to Texas. Fortunately, in years when we had ample rainfall there was a credit built up against these obligations. Since we are in a shortfall of rain and snow this year, it seems as though we will have to rely on the remaining credits that have been built up to fulfill our compact obligation.
As you may or may not know, we can only pay this obligation in water not money. From my perspective, lack of water is a frightening concept. It not only affects the economy of the state, but each individual living here.
More and more municipalities are imposing water conservation plans. We need to educate the public on the need for conservation of water. One of our neighboring states has appropriated 6.2 million dollars for a lawsuit on claims to some of New Mexico's water.
Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth, take a shorter shower, and DON'T WASTE WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anna Crook is a New Mexico State Representative, representing District 64. She is a member of the Taxation and Revenue and Transportation committees. She is also an Interim Member of the following committees: NM Finance Authority Oversight Committee, Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee, and the Water & Natural Resources Committee.
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