(SANTA FE, New Mexico) – The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission voted in a public meeting today to support water conservation projects, rural communities and the environment in Southwestern New Mexico through the Arizona Water Settlement Act (AWSA). The Commission's recommendation includes municipal water conservation, capturing and saving flood waters for future use, and effluent reuse in the Luna, Grant, Catron and Hildago County areas. New Mexico has no financial obligation at this time.

The AWSA allocates to New Mexico an annual average of 14,000 acre-feet of additional water from the Gila Basin and up to $128 million in non-reimbursable federal funding.

"New Mexico will notify authorities in Washington D.C. that we wish to bring new water into New Mexico," said Commission Secretary and State Engineer Scott Verhines. "If we don't speak up now, New Mexico immediately and permanently loses the opportunity to develop AWSA water from the Gila River. The amount of water could yield enough to supply about 24,000 to 40,000 homes annually, provide irrigation water for farmers and keep water in the river for endangered species. This will be the only opportunity for New Mexico to meet these vital needs for water."

The ISC has hosted over 200 public meetings on the AWSA and developed an intensive, two-tiered evaluation process in which forty-one proposals were submitted. The Commission approved sixteen proposals for further assessment, integration and/or refinement. Fifteen proposals emerged as viable options and have been analyzed by engineering and science consultants evaluating technical, legal, cultural, and financial feasibility as well as identifying potential environmental effects.

"These proposals have been carefully scrutinized using the best available science and technology," said Acting Interstate Stream Director Amy Haas. "We have dedicated substantial funding and staff resources to determine if the proposals are viable. The ISC cautions the public that this scrutiny is the first of many continued evaluations as New Mexico moves forward."

The vote today includes the decision to send notice to the Department of the Interior by December 31, 2014. Once that notice has been delivered, New Mexico will begin a lengthy process to implement the development of new water and federal funding. Today's vote obligates the federal government to provide New Mexico funding to develop a New Mexico "Unit."

"New Mexico's financial options will remain open for years to come," added Acting Interstate Stream Commission Director Amy Haas. "If New Mexico determines down the road that our options are overly costly or no longer feasible, we have the option to change course. Today's vote is not a commitment to a short term obligation; it is a commitment to the long term health of New Mexico as a whole."

The nine-member Interstate Stream Commission is charged with separate duties, including protecting New Mexico's right to water under eight interstate stream compacts,
ensuring the state complies with each of those compacts as well as investigating, conserving and protecting the waters of the State, in addition to water planning.