[Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of articles on the Oct. 30 meeting of the NM CAP Entity.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

The first part of the meeting of the New Mexico Central Arizona Project Entity focused on public comment and business before the debate among members on what should be in the proposed action to be sent to the Bureau of Reclamation.

Allyson Siwik, Gila Conservation Coalition executive director, told the entity members, "as you deliberate, the Gila Conservation Coalition is concerned about your options." She said the yield seems the same as low yield that has been talked about in meetings recently. "It is a small portion of the allocated 14,000 acre-feet, but even so it will significantly damage the ecology. Why have you abandoned the 150 cubic feet per second that the ISC (Interstate Stream Commission) set? The way the action is modeled, it will completely dry up the river in the winter. As so far configure, it will benefit only a small number in the agricultural community, who are diverting more than they are allocated."

She noted the Grant County Regional Water Supply plan won a national award. "It will benefit 26,000 people in the county, but it can't be finished because it doesn't have enough money. The ISC and the CAP are turning a blind eye to it."

Norm Gaume, retired engineer and former ISC director, said: "I have talked to you many times about the yield AECOM said there is plentiful water except during the eight years when the San Carlos Reservoir was dry. Their conclusions are significantly different from my results. Peter Coha and I ran our models using AECOM's figures and came up with different answers. What causes the difference? AECOM abandons the 150s cfs, which ISC's former Gila Basin Manager Craig Roepke, said was the threshold for the beginning of discussion. AECOM takes half of its flows from winter low flows. Why did AECOM abandon the 150s cfs? Because the ISC and (NM CAP Entity Executive Director Anthony) Gutierrez told them to? There is a lack of transparency. Do the rest of you members know about the abandonment of the 150s cfs minimum flow? I call for a vote after your deliberation to determine if you want to abandon the 150 cfs."

Gerald Schultz, representing the state National Resource Conservation Service, said: "During my work for the federal government, we kept abreast of scientific research. I continue to keep up by attending conferences and reading scientific material, including this article in Scientific American—A Radical Groundwater Storage Test Taking Floods to Recharge and Recovery. I recommend it as a must read. Reading and listening to other experts is always useful."

Carol Martin thanked the committee for reading through and comprehending the 500 page document from AECOM, and "then going to their constituents and telling them what was in it. How many people will benefit? How much gross receipts tax will it raise? Will local contractors be hired? The report says that salt cedar is a common tree and dominant. For three years, we have asked Freeport-McMoRan to remove the salt cedar. How is the land to be acquired—fair market value or eminent domain? Have potential landowners been advised? Will the water be metered? It seems to me that salts and chemicals will move from pond to pond. How will I benefit? From food to eat in restaurants? The pumping stations proposed are a 1988 design. Is there nothing more recent?"

In old business, Aaron Sera, representing the second fiscal agent, the city of Deming, presented an audit contract for approval. "It is for $11,107 to pay Cordova CPA LLC for the audit. Last year, the state audited our budget and expenditures for $10,000, but this year, the state told us they would not be doing the audit. We need this contract approved, so we can get the audit done by the deadline in December."

Sera presented line item budget adjustments. Gutierrez said because a vehicle for the use of the entity and himself has not been purchased, $8,000 has been moved from transportation to the mileage item. From the vehicle line item, $23,500 has been moved into professional services and the above described $11,500 into the audit line item.

Members approved the contract and the line item budget adjustments.

The next item of discussion was the update on the Amended Joint Powers Agreement.

Gutierrez said it was approved by the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration on Oct. 16. "It means we can move forward with discussions with Freeport and it allows the addition of the Grant Soil and Water Conservation District to our entity."

"We welcome Ty Bays as the representative of the Grant Soil and Water Conservation District as a new member of the entity," Gutierrez said.

Vance Lee, representing Hidalgo County also welcomed Bays.

NM CAP Entity Chairwoman Darr Shannon thanked Bays for his patience.

The discussion of the components and alternatives for the proposed action will be covered in a subsequent article or articles.