Informed Cynic Home Page

APR WATER GRAB - LOCAL ENVIRO. & NEWS

August 16, 2018 -
APR to Appeal Denial of Application to 7th Judicial Court (Socorro)

In the order denying the application to mine water in the Plains of San Augustin, the Hearing Officer stated that "In the absence of a specific plan to appropriate a specific quantity of water for specific identified beneficial uses, there is no showing of a non-speculative need, which is a requirement for the issuance of a permit under which a water right may be developed. ... All of the findings of fact and conclusions of law set out above collectively support the conclusion that APR's Corrected Application is speculative and should be denied." The State Engineer stated in the order, "I ACCEPT AND ADOPT THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE HEARING EXAMINER THIS DAY OF JULY, 2018."

Nevertheless, the APR has appealed. Why they appealed or what kind of arguments they will bring before a judge remains to be seen. The appeal avoids the need for a full evidentiary hearing on permit to drill 37 wells and pump 54,000 acre-feet per year out of the area.
(Download press release)

August 15, 2018 -
Augustin Plains Ranch appeals decision. Chieftain

August 5, 2018 -
The Battle for Water Rights Heats Up in El Salvador.
TruthOut

August 2, 2018 - APR application denied:
From Douglas Meiklejohn Attorney - NM Environmental Law Center: Hearing Officer's report recommending that the State Engineer grant the motions for summary judgment that Catron County and we filed. As is indicated on page 13, the State Engineer accepted the recommendation. Report and Recommendation Granting Motions for Summary Judgement

Bottom line: "All of the findings of fact and conclusions of law set out above collectively support the conclusion that APR’s Corrected Application is speculative and should be denied."

State engineer accepts recommendation denying water application. Chieftain

June 26, 2017 -
Attend a rally in opposition to the Gila River diversion and then join us to make public comment at the NEPA scoping meetings scheduled for 4pm to 7 pm.
More info

New Analysis Demonstrates Importance of Gila National Forest-Northern Arizona Wildlife Corridor for Mexican Wolf Recovery. NM Wild Or PDF file

Juily 2018 Bosque Del Apache news letter.
Note the water problems on the Rio Grande.

DANCE FOR WATER!!
Benefit dance will be held on June 23rd to raise funds for legal expenses. Datil Community Center, 8:00 p.m. after the Farr Memorial roping. The Wild Ride Band will play until midnight.

Also, another Pendleton blanket has been donated for a raffle. This one is a limited edition "Weaver's Series #1" designed by Navajo weaver, Roselyn Begay. Tickets are $5.00 each, or 5 for $20.00. It will be displayed at the dance, and at subsequent events. Drawing will be held the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

June 4, 2018-
Importance of Gila National Forest For Mexican Wolf Recovery. Wildlands Network

Standoff Over Mexican Gray Wolf Continues in Southwestern U.S. NatureNow

New Analysis Demonstrates Importance of Gila National Forest-Northern Arizona Wildlife Corridor for Mexican Wolf Recovery. New Mexico Wild

May 30,2018 - APR watr grab update from Carol Pittman::
There is still no decision by the State Engineer on the application to mine water in the Plains of San Augustin. While we wait, let’s assess the situation.
Smoke Outlook.pdf

The proposed project by the Augustin Plains Ranch LLC (APR LLC) is one which we, the community, must fight on three fronts.

1) The legal front. We have twice won on this front because we have had top-notch representation by the New Mexico Environmental Law Center. NMELC continues to represent us and should you have a couple of bucks to spare, a donation would help us meet our expenses (travel, court filings, copying, mailing). Here is a link to their website: http://www.nmelc.org/ You can also send a check to NMELC, 1405 Luisa St., Suite #5, Santa Fe NM 87505. In either case be sure to indicate that your donation if for the “Augustin Plains account.”

2) The second front we must fight on is the technical front. As you may know, the APR LLC has engaged Occam Engineering to conduct a hydrological study of the Plains. Occam Engineering is corporate president Scott Verhines, the former State Engineer who denied the APR LLC’s application, and Estevan Lopez, former head of the Interstate Stream Commission, a protestant of the application. These two men have changed sides.

We, therefore, must do our own hydrological study. If you’d like to contribute to our hydrology fund, there are two ways to do that. Make a donation to the San Augustin Water Coalition, PO Box 613, Datil NM 87821. Designate your donation for the “Hydrology Fund.” OR, go on line to the Southwest Research and Information Center http://www.sric.org/ and contribute to the Augustin Plains account. SRIC administers our grant funds, but also takes individual donations.

The investment you make to save our community will also protect the investment you’ve made in your home and/or business.

3) The third front in our water battle is political. While I'm not suggesting that anyone be a one-issue voter, I do suggest that you consider voting for those who stand with our community on this issue. If this project is approved it will set a precedent that can harm all of New Mexico's rural communities.
Socorro Voting Places.pdf
Catron Voting Places.pdf
Download the above update.pdf

May 3, 2018 -
Is the SEC doing enough with renewable energy?
Chieftain

April 26, 2018 - Augustin Plains Ranch OpEd makes astounding claims - Download

April 26, 2018 - 'We'll survive': Officials: Farmers have water despite early drying Rio Grande - Chieftain

April 18, 2018 - Jichlinski responds to Sen Heinrich article in the Chieftain .pdf version
Original Sen Meinrich article here Chieftain
pdf version

APRIL 17, 2018
2018 SAWC ANNUAL MEETING VIDEOS:
The presentation of an on-going study of the San Augustin Plains Aquifer by Dr. Alex Rinehart (Hydrogeology, Geomechanics) from NM Tech Earth and Environmental Science -
1 of 4.webm
2 of 4.webm
3 of 4.webm
4 of 4.webm

Alex Reinhart presentation slides.

April 6, 2018 -
20th anniversary of release of Mexican wolves in wild. Chieftain .pdf

(East Mountain) Water dispute has statewide implications. Mountain View Telegraph

April 5, 2018 -
Despite Overwhelming Opposition From Residents, Michigan Permits Nestlé to Draw More Groundwater for Bottling. ... Out of 81,862 comments filed, only 75 were reportedly in favor of granting the permit. AlterNet

April 5, 2018 -
Navajo water ruling will be appealed to NM Supreme Court. An attorney for non-Indian water users in northwest New Mexico says he will appeal a decision by the New Mexico Court of Appeals upholding an agreement between the Navajo Nation and state government settling Navajo water rights claims in the San Juan River basin.
Albuquerque Journal .PDF

April 4, 2018 - Letter from Rep Gail Armstrong to Zinke, head of the Deptartment of the Inetrior regarding the removal of their "objection" to the APR project. Armstrong Letter

April 4, 2018 - Anyone who has had an unreasonable experience with Socorro Electric Coop (SEC), our Electricity provider. ... We are currently compiling complaints and experiences yourself/others may have encountered with SEC, in an effort to collaboratively address SEC. Call Bonny Dexter 505-205-6658

April 2, 2018 -
Water grab on the plains of San Agustin. Letter to the editor by Sen. Martin Heinrich. Chieftain .PDF

March 24, 2018 -
Warehouse 1-10 WATER 2018
Panel discussion.

The Panelists left to right:
* Mary Katherine Ray,
Wild Life Photographer and Chair for the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club
* Douglas Meiklejohn,
Founder and Executive Director of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center
* Carol Pittman,
The Augustin Plains Challenge San Augustin Plains Water Grab.
* Fred Phillips,
Professor of Hydrology at Dept. of Earth & Enviro. Science, NM Tech
* Gail Armstrong,
State Representative for District 49
* Ed Katzenberger,
Watershed Discipleship. Cooperative interfaith effort between Albuquerque Mennonite Church and NM Interfaith Power and Light

VIDEOS
Part 1.webm or mp4    Part 2,webm or mp4
Part 3.webm or mp4    Part 4.webm or mp4
Part 5.webm or mp4    Part 6.webm or mp4
                    Part 7 webm or mp4

March 27, 2017 - Letter from Senator Heinrich to US IN terrior re: Interrior removing APR form their "protest" to the project. Download here Related: The Plains of San Agustin have been designated a “Most Endangered Place” by the New Mexico Heritage, Preservation Alliance, a statewide, private, nonprofit historic preservation organization. Download here

This orginaztion supports the fight against the water grab:
Southwest Research and Information Center - MISSION: Southwest Research and Information Center is a multi-cultural organization working to promote the health of people and communities, protect natural resources, ensure citizen participation, and secure environmental and social justice now and for future generations

March 15, 2018 -
NM, feds reach agreement on wolf releases. Albuquerque Journal

March 15, 2017 - Bhasker vows to go after the electric cooperative

Warehouse 1-10 is proud
to present WATER 2018
Saturday, March 24th - 1 to 3pm

At Warehouse 1-10 is at 110 North Main, Magdalena.

Art Exhibits
Panel Discussion starting at Noon
Download the flyer: Word or PDF

Coke, Nestle Near Ownership Of World’s Second Largest Aquifer. ... A concerted push is underway in South America that could see the Guarani Aquifer, one of the world’s largest reserves of fresh water, soon fall into the hands of transnational corporations such as Coca-Cola and Nestle. Popular Resistance

USGS Library Materials for Water Resources Information. FDLP

March 1, 2018 - APR Update from Randell Major:

I sat in on SM 30 "NO PERMIT FOR AUGUSTIN PLAINS RANCH WATER". It made it through several committees and then to the Senate Chamber and passed 36 to nothing. Which is good! Even though this memorial does not have the legal authority to direct the State Engineer what to do, it does send a strong signal.

This part is my opinion. The San Augustin Plains Ranch LLC has their lobbyist and are going strong to get our water. Senator Joseph Cervantes pointed out many different cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and others that get their water from somewhere else. Making the comment that NM may need to do the same" move water around". We need to keep up the fight. These guys are not going away anytime soon.
Full report on meeting here Copy of SM30 here

New website: Peaceful Gila Skies - Stop Holloman Air Force Base expansion of military training over the Gila. Click here

Time to support our Environmental Law Center leading the legal battatle against the water grab -

Last year, without being asked, people like you - who know us and respect our work - voted the New Mexico Environmental Law Center into 3rd place in the Santa Fe Reporter’s annual Best of Santa Fe in the category, “Best Non-Profit for the Environment”.

This year, we’d LOVE to come in 1st place! Willyou help us reach the top?

Please Vote! Support the work that our donors and clients make possible every year protecting New Mexico's air, land, and water.

Votes have to be in by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, February 28th. No pressure.

Vote here - the Santa Fe Reporter

February 21,2018 -

Interbasin transfers of water, that is, the movement of water from one basin to another, has consequences for the go-to area as well as the take-from area. It has been a common occurrence to move surface water from one area to another, via a diversion, tunnel or pipeline. The transfer of groundwater is beginning to appeal to water managers as scarcity becomes more pressing. Treatises have been written on the subject and this venue is not appropriate for a long explanation, but awareness is of great importance as we have learned from what is happening on the Augustin Plains. Briefly, here are the questions we might ask when an interbasin transfer of water is proposed:

1) What is the environmental cost to the take-from area? Will it kill the grass? the trees? Will it leave enough water for people, livestock and wildlife? And what happens to the land when large transfers occur?

2) What is the environmental cost to the go-to area? Does the water “fit” the area?

3) What is the economic cost to the take-from area? We have learned from the Augustin Plains experience that not much can happen in an area where the water supply is threatened. Catron County has experienced little growth for 10 years.

4) What is the cost of the water in the go-to area? Does the entity in charge of the project expect to make a profit?

4) How sustainable is the water supply? What happens to the go-to area when this finite resource is gone? What happens in the take-from place when the finite resource is exhausted? These two questions are extremely important in a semi-arid climate.
We can ask more questions, but these should get you thinking about the need for regulation that will ensure fairness for all. “El agua is vida” applies to all life and has ramifications extending beyond basic needs.
- Carol Pittman

Related: Comments by Rocking R Ranch -
I sat in on SM 30 "NO PERMIT FOR AUGUSTIN PLAINS RANCH WATER". It made it through several committees and then to the Senate Chamber and passed 36 to nothing. Which is good! Even though this memorial does not have the legal authority to direct the State Engineer what to do, it does send a strong signal.

February 19, 2018 - Legislative Update from
Carol Pittman. The Legislative session is over and some good things happened. Gail Armstrong, our representative to the New Mexico House of Representatives, will host a Town Hall meeting at the Eagle Guest to bring us a recap. The meeting will also be an opportunity for you to express your concerns for our community. I’d like to suggest that Gail sponsor legislation on interbasin water transfers, and show Gail that we will support such legislation.

HERE ARE THE MEETING DETAILS:
Place: Eagle Guest Cafe, Datil
Time: 4:30-6pm
Date: Friday, February 23

January 25, 2018 - Deadline for co-op trustee candidates is Jan. 31 Chieftain

January 25, 2018 - Senator Munoz is the sponsor. The Memorial says it is “Asking the Office of the State Engineer to Refrain from Issuing a Permit to Augustin Plains Ranch Limited Liability Company to Appropriate fifty-four Thousand Acre-Feet of Water.” You can check it out at the link below

SENATE MEMORIAL 30 - 53RD LEGISLATURE- STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2018
INTRODUCED BY - George K. Munoz - A MEMORIAL ... ASKING THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER TO REFRAIN FROM ISSUING A PERMIT TO AUGUSTIN PLAINS RANCH LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY TO APPROPRIATE FIFTY-FOUR THOUSAND ACRE-FEET OF WATER. Download the Memorial

January 7, 2018 - Though New Mexico's national monuments appear to have avoided the sweeping acreage roll-backs happening in Utah, the Interior Department's recommendations for Rio Grande del Norte National Monument and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks have many worried. Taos News

The Gila National Forest has released their Draft Wilderness Inventory maps, and the public is invited to submit comments. The draft maps total more than 1.2 million acres. New Mexico Wild volunteers have worked for the last four and half years helping to influence these draft maps. Public input is critical to ensure that these areas make it into the Final Wilderness Inventory, and your personal experiences and comments are essential to making that a reality.The Wilderness Homepage for the Gila National Forest

WATER 2120 - Securing Albuquerque's Water Future. YouTube

Drought Risk Rising as a Second La Niña Winter Kicks In. Weather Underground Drought Map

Note: All legal documents related to the recent Motion for Summary Judgement are in one place, here

December 21, 2017 -
State water rights experts: Controversial water project is ‘speculative’. NM Political Report

December 21, 2017 -
Official questions water project. ... Arguments for and against the proposed project by Augustin Plains Ranch LLC (APR) were heard last Wednesday, Dec. 13 at the Catron County Court House in Reserve. Chieftain

December 13, 2017 - Videos of the Hearing
Office of State Engineer Hearings on
Summary Judgement Issue of the
Augustin Plains Ranch Application

1 - Opening remarks and Douglas Meiklejohn of the NM Enviromental Law Center .mp4 or .webm

2 - Pete Domenici, Jr. for Catron County Board of County Commissioners and 5 Additional Protestants
.mp4 or webm

3 - Jessica Aberly for Pueblo of Sandia
.mp4 or .webm

4 - Peter Thomas White for Cuchillo Valley Community Ditch Assoc and Salomon Tafoya .mp4 or .webm

5 - Tessa Davidson for Hand Protestants
.mp4 or .webm

6 - Samantha Ruscavage-Bartz for Wild Earth Guardians .mp4 or .webm

7 - Simeon Herskovits for Advocates for Community and Environment .mp4 or .webm

8 - Jeffrey Wechsler for the Augustin Plains Ranch LLC Response .mp4 or .webm

9 - Chris Lindeen, Water Rights Division .mp4 or .webm
(Name of speaker has been corrected)

10 - Reply to APR by Douglas Meiklejohn of the NM Environmental Law Center .mp4 or .webm

11 - Reply to APR by Pete Domenici, Jr. for Catron County Board of County Commissioners and 5 Additional Protestants .mp4 or .webm

12 - Reply to APR by Tessa Davidson for Hand Protestants. .mp-4 or .webm

BRIEF COMMENTARY
Quick note on the assessment of the oral argument for both Motions for Summary Judgment issue matter in Reserve yesterday: Attorneys representing those protesting the APR did an outstanding job stating their case. More on the meeting and videos of the proceedings should be available early next week. Following the protestors' presentations, the APR LLC's attorney made his, and it couldn't compare.

Then it was the turn of the Water Rights Division. Be reminded that the document written by the Water Rights Division (WRD) of the Office of the State Engineer stated what looked to be an opinion in favor of the APR LLC. Chris Lindeen, attorney for the WRD, explained that the WRD document was only intended to show that the application was complete, and he went on to explain what that meant. Then, said he, the WRD was going to RECOMMEND THAT THE STATE ENGINEER DISMISS THE APPLICATION, BASED ON SPECULATION!!!!! The shock in the courtroom was palpable: you could have heard a pin drop.

There is a lot of explanation that goes with that recommendation. The State Engineer must make the final decision and we won't know what that decision is for "two or three months" according to the hearing officer. All were encouraged by what we heard today.
Download

December 15, 2017 -
Order memorializing the Stay of Proceeding and Denial of Protestant hand's Motion to Strike Applicant's Reply to Water r Rights Division's Response.

December 13, 201 7 (3 Documents) -
From OSE - Notice regarding Protestants' Motion for Telephonic Appearance.

Entry of Appearance - Christopher D Shaw of NM Interstate Stream Commission and related:
Withdrawal of Counsel - Kim Bannerman Interstate Stream Commission.

December 12, 2017 -
Applicants Response in Opposition to the Hand Protestants' Motion to Strike

December 7, 2017 -
OSE Unopposed Motion for Telephone Appearance at Dec 13th hearing on behalf of NM and Catron County Farm and Livestock Bureaus.

December 6, 2017 - December 6, 2017 - from OSE - Entry of Appearance for Christopher Lindeen, OSE
Litigation Unit.

December 4, 2017 - From the NM Enviromental Law Center: The Community Protestants' Consolidated Reply to the Augustin Plains' Ranch's Response and The Water Rights Division's Response to the Community Protestants' Motion for Summary Judgment.

December 4, 2017 - From Wild Earth - Protestant WildEarth Guardians' Reply to Applicant's and Water Right Division's Responses to the Community Protestants' Motion for Summary Judgment.

December 1, 2017 - From Advocates for Community and Environment - Joinder in the Community Protestants' Reply to the Augustin Plains Ranch's Response in Support of their Motion for Summary Judgment and Catron County Board of County Commissioners' Reply in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment.

November 29, 2017 - New motions:
1 - from office of Montgomery, Draper, et al - APR reply to response to the New Mexico Environmental Law center motion for Summary Judgment

2 - From Office of State Engineer - re: Applicant's Catron County Response and Hearing Examiner should have benefit of WRD protestants' and WRD response to Applicant's Catron County Response, etc

November 24, 2017 -
Catron County Board of County Commissioners' Reply in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment - From Domenici Law Firm.

Water fight continues with oral arguments scheduled - Chieftain

November 18, 2017 -
NOTICE OF HEARING - Please addend to show support - Oral Argument for both Motions for Summary Judgment matter is scheduled to commence at 1pm on Wed, December 13, 2017, in Reserve, NM.
OSE Notice of Oral Argument

November 17, 2017 -
Mining fossil water will leave community 'high and dry - by Carol Pittman

November 8 2017 - from OSE: Response to Catron County Motion for Summary Judgment.

November 6, 2017 -
Water Rights Division rejects protestants’ arguments . ... Another round of legal wrangling took place at the Office of the State Engineer. Chieftain

November 6, 2017 -
From OSE: Water Rights Division Response to Catron County's Board of County Commissioners' Motion for summary Judgement.

January 2017 - OP-ED: Douglas Meiklejohn / The New Mexico Environmental Law Center’s Top Ten Environmental Issues to Watch in 2017. ... Trump and Martínez: A Double Whammy for New Mexico’s Environment and
Communities.

October 20, 2017 -
A list of Parties Entitled to Notice from OSE

Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources -
Hydrogologeologic Projects in New Mexico
NMBGMR Magdalena information
San Agustin Plains & Alamosa Creek Study

November 2, 2017 -
October 30, 2017 Document from APR attorneys Montgomery& Andrews and Draper and Draper. In the matter of the Corrected Application filed by APR LLC for Permit to Appropriate Groundwater in the Rio Grande Underground Water Basin in the State of New Mexico - Document title: Applicant's Consolidated Response in Opposition to the Environmental Law Center Protestants' Motion for Summary Judgement (62 pages)
Errata (4 pages)
Exhibits A Thru H in ZIP format
Exhibits H-1 Thru O zip format
Or, exhibits can be downloaded from the
Montgomery & Andrews website Click here)
(recommend only download 4 at a time)

November 1, 2017 -
Water Rights Division's Response to the NMELC Protestants' Motion for Summary Judgment

October 27, 2017 -
Sen. Pearce signs this legislation:
Congressmen push Jeff Sessions to call environmentalists terrorists. ... Four Democrats join 80 Republicans on letter asking the Attorney General to treat pipeline sabotage as domestic terrorism. ThinkProgress .

October 26, 2017-
Order (from Office of the State Engineer) Granting Extension of Time.

October 18, 2017 -
Catron County Commission. Three documents - :
- Notice of Joinder.(9 pages)
- Unopposed Motion for Deadline Extension
- Catron County Board of County Commissioners Motion for Summary Judgment and Memorandum in Support
(32 pages)

October 19, 2017 -
Water Politics comment clipped from from NM Blogspot. (Original article here dated October 18) Related: August 31, 2017 - Santolina takes Another Step Forward. Abq Journal

New Mexico Governor Martinez Accused of "Wholesale Disregard of the Law" ... "Martinez is an environmental demon with this huge industrial agenda." ... Members of her administration routinely - and quite aggressively - opposed measures designed to protect our water supply.
TruthOut

Wall Street Cash Flows Into New Mexico, Despite Pay-To-Play Rule. MapLight

New Mexico Project Would Pipe Rural Groundwater 150 Miles to Big City. ... An absentee property owner aims to tap ancient groundwater for delivery to Albuquerque, but ranchers in the arid valley worry it will dry up their livelihood and the water will never return. News Deeply or
Website

October 16, 2017 -
WildEarth Guardians Joinder.

Entry of Appearance of Co-counsel for the Navajo Nation and Navajo Nation's Joinder in the Community Protestants' Motion for Summary Judgment.

October 13, 2017 -
Joinder - Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy Districts and NM Farm & Livestock Bureau and Catron County Farm and Livestock Bureau's....
Seeking Summary Judgment

Joinder by the Pueblos of San Felipe, Santa Ana, Sandia, and Isleta in the Community Protestants' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment

October 12, 2017 -
3 members of Interstate Stream Commission resign in 24 hours. ... The resignations of three members of the Interstate Stream Commission, including allies of Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, follow the departure of several senior water policy staff members from state government in the past year. Santa Fe New Mexican

October 11, 2017 -
Joinder in Community Protestants' Motion for Summary Judgment (Advocates for Community & Environment

Example of proposed law changes in Nevada worth reviewing:
Statutory Changes Proposed to Legislative Commission Sub-Committee to Study Water

October 10, 2017 - Update on:
Community Protestants' Response in Opposition to the APR Expedited Motion to Extend Briefing Deadlines on the ELC Protestants' Motion for Summary Judgment
And - The Community Protestants' Supplemental certificate of Service

Connecting the Santolina dots - who gets paid off - who does the paying. Eye on Albuquerque

October 6, 2017 -
New OSE Documents.
Order Adopting Briefing Schedule and Order dismissing certain protestants. View both

Connecting the Santolina dots -Eye on Albuquerque

FYI: 1877 Desert Land Act

October 4, 2017 -
Why does Barclays want to build a city in the middle of the New Mexico desert? ... Santolina, a planned 38,000-home mega-development on the outskirts of Albuquerque, has got local residents deeply concerned that it will suck up desperately needed water amid warnings of a future megadrought. Full story from The Guardian

Related links:
http://mesadelsolnm.com/ - another development started in 2005.

August 16, 2017 - Controversy Swirls Around Santolina Water Plan Delay (KUNM)

- Stop the Santolina (FaceBook)
- Santolina Master Plan ( Bernalillo County website)
- Contra Santolina

Santolina website is defunct. However, links to it are
here: and their twitter account here

Related:
São Paulo - anatomy of a failing megacity: residents struggle as water taps run dry … In the first in a series looking at Brazil's largest city, Claire Rigby reports that many paulistanos are hoarding water in their apartments - and some are even drilling homemade wells - as they prepare for possible rationing. Guardian

October 4, 2017 -
From the office of the State Engineer:
Partially Unopposed Motion Requesting An Extension of the Time to Fill Response (see below)

The Community Protestants Motion for Summary Judgment (On APR application
Part 1 of 2 Part 2 of 2

[October 2, 2017 -
Comments on the September 29, 2017, public meeting with the State Engineer.

Handouts at the meeting:
-- Instructions for Parties in State Engineer Administrative Hearings
-- Scheduling Order

Sept 28, 2017 -
San Augustin Plains water, aquifer focus of meeting.
Chieftain

September 27, 2017 -
The Community Protestants' Motion for Summary Judgement (On APR application
Part 1 of 2
Part 2 of 2

September 22, 2017 -

San Augustin Plains water, aquifer focus of meeting
Chieftain

September 21, 2017 -

REMINDER: THERE IS A HEARING ON THE WATER GRAB (APR) PROJECT AT MACEY CENTER, AT NEW MEXICO TECH, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 6PM.

PLEASE COME!!! WE NEED TO SHOW UP AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT OUR INTERESTS ARE IMPORTANT.

The purpose of this hearing, according to the State Engineer’s Scheduling Order is “to provide information on the administrative hearing process, alternate dispute resolution, and to provide APR an opportunity, if amenable, to a description and summary of its application, and for protestants to succinctly state their positions other than those stated in the respective protest letters.”

It appears that APR will have the opportunity to make a presentation while we may be limited in who can speak and what we can say. Very, very important that we show up in large numbers!!!

September 7, 2017 -

View of (SEC) contract harmful? The City of Socorro’s offer to buy out Socorro Electric Cooperative is the reason behind the Co-op’s decision not to let City Administrator Donald Monette review its contract with Tri-State Energy last month. Chieftain
Related: July 2016- Tri-State presentation to SEC

September 2, 2017 -
Thousands weigh in on wolf recovery plan ... Just hours before the Tuesday night deadline approached for the public to weigh in on a proposed federal management plan for the endangered Mexican gray wolf, more than 9,000 comments had been posted online. Thousands more had been submitted to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by mail — most opposing a wolf recovery plan that many criticized as too restrictive to allow the species to thrive.
New Mexican

August 31, 2017-
How do Socorro Electric Co-op rates stack up.
(Part 1 of 2) Chieftain (Part 2 coming)

August 28, 2017 -
Rio Grande Aquifer System. Composite Hydrograph Well Location Map. USGS

August 25, 2017 -
Hydrogeology of the San Agustin Plains
by Alex Rinehart, Daniel Koning and Stacy Timmons. New Mexico Bureau of Geology. 62nd New Mexico Water Conference August 16, 2017. Download

August 23, 2017 -
Why Charter Schools Are Losing Support From Democrats. TruthOut

August 15, 2017 -
Sen. Udall speaks at water conference. Chieftain

August 17, 2017 -
Pence's Indiana 'Cautionary Tale' for Privatizing Infrastructure Projects. White House plan touts partnerships with private sector while Indiana residents navigate aftermath of roadway privatization approved by Pence, their former governor. CommonDreams

Reclaiming Public Services. ... How cities and citizens are turning back privatization.TNI

August 11, 2017 - New Mexico State Engineer Scheduling Order. issued August 10, 2017

August 10, 2017 -
Would you support a City of Cororro buyout of the SEC? Vote here

August 3, 2017 -
Mayor proposes buyout of SEC: Options outlined at Co-op board meeting - Chieftain .pdf version

NEW WATER GRAB ISSUES

October 2012 - Groundwater in NM Report

August 4, 2017 -
Rural residents continue decade-long battle against San Augustin Ranch water project.
NM Political Report .pdf version

Related: 1994 USGS Report: Geohydrology of the San Agustin Basin, Alamosa Creek Basin upstream from Monticello Box, and upper Gila Basin in parts of Catron, Socorro, and Sierra Counties, NM. Download

Next stop for Texas-NM water dispute: Supreme Court. NM Political Report .pdf version

City (Jal, NM) gave ranch million-dollar water discount, documents show. NM Political Report .pdf version (See related articles at the bottom of the NM Political Report website)

Maps of declared groundwater basins home page - home page

Map of NM Basins (takes a few seconds to load. When done there is an outline of basins in NM)

Over view of basins in NM.

August 2, 2017 -
Socorro Electric Co-op member survey -
In the upcoming months, SEC will be conducting a phone survey with members to received input on a variety of issues. We are interested in how we are doing as your provider. The SEC has hired a professional firm to conduct this survey, with the hopes of giving honest feedback about the service. The survey will ask questions on a variety of topics, such as the price of electricity, renewable energy, responsiveness to inquires, and internet service.

July 27, 2017 -
Letter from Socorro Mayor, Ravi Bhasker, to the
SEC board

Call to the Wild - Mexican gray wolf recovery program faces challenges. Chieftain

Landowners support (SunZia) road restrictions -
Chieftain

July 21, 2017 -
Goals discussed at wolf recovery meeting ... If the Mexican gray wolf population averages 320 in the wild in the United States over an eight-year period, the animal could be removed from the endangered species list.
Chieftain

July 17, 2017 -
Speak up for Wolves - Attend upcoming meetings:

July 20th - T of C - 6 - 9pm
Civic Center, Ralph Edwards Auditorium, 400 W 4th

July 22nd - Albuquerque, NM (Facebook Event) -
Crowne Plaza Albuquerque 1901 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102
(Prep at the Wolf Den: 11 am - 12:45 pm
Rally: 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
FWS Meeting: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

July 16, 2017 -

25 Percent of Australian Homes Have Switched to Solar, and Other Green Triumphs This Week TruthDig

July 13, 2017 -

Co-op defends situation with TDS - Chieftain or download pdf version

July 7, 2017 -

Mexican Wolf Draft Revised Recovery Plan released Chieftain PDF version

Release range and spotting map:

Recovery information website

Could SunZia supply SEC? Chieftain
pdf version

Albuquerque Journal - Boarder Aquifers
Two Nations - One Aquifer

Border Water at Risk - Border wall can’t keep groundwater from draining away
Albuquerque Journal

Biggest Pump Wins - Albuquerque Journal

Mexico’s largest conglomerate profits from pipeline, Albuquerque Journal

Pipeline skips area’s poorest.
Albuquerque Journal

The River Pays For All of It Albuquerque Journal

'I am going to be out of water’
Albuquerque Journal

Picking up the slack in chile cultivation.
Albuquerque Journal

Video: A Race to the Bottom YouTube

July 6, 2017 -

Court Throws Out Feds’ Misguided Policy Limiting Prosecution of Killers of Endangered Wildlife. ... Late yesterday, a federal judge threw out the Department of Justice’s flawed ‘McKittrick Policy’ under which the government only prosecuted killers of animals on the Endangered Species Act’s (ESA) list of imperiled species when it could prove the killer knew the exact biological identity of the species s/he was harming. The decision came as a result of a challenge brought by WildEarth Guardians and the
New Mexico Wilderness Alliance in 2013.

July 5, 2017 -

The new west: why Republicans blocked public land management . ... As ‘permanent tourists’ move to the western US, the oil and gas-captured Republican party is fighting to keep locals out of managing public lands. Guardian

Private Money Goes After Trump’s Public Infrastructure Projects TruthDig (Note: this is not the infrastructure list that includes the APR)

July 4, 2017 -

Water and National Security - Council on Foreign Relations Discussion Paper. Note: CFR is a neo-liberal "think tank" (sic). These are not supporters of honorable values.

June 29, 2017 -

City releases electric utility feasibility study -
Chieftain

In light of the Socorro City Council's recent release of its long awaited electric feasibility study, Mayor Ravi Bhasker issued a formal letter to the Socorro Electric Cooperative at its regular bi-monthly meeting. Chieftain

Download the full report or visit the Socorro city website. City website.

Navajo power plant likely to close despite Trump’s promises to save coal. Raw Story

Climate change is shrinking the West’s water supply ... Three new studies show dry times ahead.
High Country News

Can private money solve public water problems?
As facilities age and public funding declines, private companies may step in.
High Country News

June 13, 2017 -
Notice of Withdraw of Counsel and Contract Information for Protestant Double H Ranch ProSe - AND - Notice of Withdraw of Counsel for Santa Tereceta Ranch

June 26, 2017 -

Hundreds file protests against water application.
Chieftain

I would like to post a reminder of a meeting of the San Augustin Water Coalition (SAWC) in Datil on June 27th at 6:00pm at the Datil Baptist Church. Everyone is welcome.
Thank you, Linn Kennedy Chair
-----------------
As you are aware from the recent meeting of the San Augustin Water Coalition, well monitoring is a good idea for all of us. Monitoring will give us data that we will need to show "impairment" if the APR get their project approved (heaven forbid!). Below is a message from the folks in the East Mountains who are also fighting a water grab attempt. I thought you might like to know their take on monitoring. Note that the Office of the State Engineer is reluctant to use the data. By joining the well-monitoring effort we become added pressure to force the OSE to pay attention.
Carol Pittman P.S. If you need another copy of the Well Monitoring flyer from NM Tech, let me know and I will send it. pittray@gilanet.com

From the Deep Well Project: -
Sara Chudnoff was with Bernalillo County, hired by Dan McGregor to expand the well monitoring program here - and expand it she did. She is great to work with and I'm really glad she will be putting together a well monitoring program around the state. Here, she expanded the program to 200 wells, which are monitored at least twice a year using proper methods. And that program has documented a reduction in water levels all over the area of about 2 feet per year - a number which should qualify us for being a Critical Management area, according to the Morrison Criteria.

In any case, I hope many people in your area will get their wells monitored - it's really good data to have (although we find that the OSE is still reluctant to use the data. They would rather use well drilling data, which may be very old and is certainly from a wide variety of dates. Janet Winchester Silbaugh. Download this announcement

NMT - Aquifer Mapping Program
Well monitoring brochure
North 14 Deep Well Protest (E. Mountains)

The schedule hearing on July 19, 2017 at the Office of State Engineer re: APR, has been postponed.

Border Water at Risk - Report on aquifers along the US/Mexico Border. Albuquerque Journal
or Download the report

Building on Regional Trend, Reading, Pa. Passes Anti-Privatization Measure. Food & Water Watch.

June 21, 2017 -
How privatization could spell the end of democracy. ... Between Trump and tech, never before have so many powerful people been so intent on transforming government into a business. Guardian

Neoliberalism turned our world into a business. And there are two big winners. ... Fearmongering Donald Trump and optimistic Silicon Valley seem to epitomize opposing ideologies. But the two have far more in common than you think. Guardian

(June 9, 2017) Congressional Progressive Caucus white paper on "21 Century New Deal for Jobs" including concerns regarding infrastructure. Download

Proposed House Bill by Juan Lujan: "To rebuild and modernize the Nation’s infrastructure to expand access to broadband internet, rehabilitate drinking water infrastructure, modernize the electric grid and energy supply infrastructure, redevelop brownfields, strengthen health care infrastructure, create jobs, protect public health and the environment, and for other purposes"
Download

March 21, 2017 - New Mexico Lobbyists report spending nearly $292K during session. New Mexico In Depth

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Warehouse 1-10 is proud
to present WATER 2018
Saturday, March 24th - 1 to 3pm

December 13, 2017 - Videos of the Hearing
Office of State Engineer Hearings on
Summary Judgement Issue of the
Augustin Plains Ranch Application

NEW WATER GRAB ISSUES

Albuquerque Journal - Boarder Aquifers
Two Nations - One Aquifer

Kelly Rd Now & History - 10 Day
Radar - Phone App - Drought Map
Drought Monitor Map

National News

WATER GRAB & SUPPORTING WEBSITES

From the NASA Solar Observatory

RECOMMENDED ORGANIZATIONS

CLICK BATE

Warehouse 1-10 is proud to present WATER 2018 Saturday, March 24th - 1 to 3pm

December 13, 2017 - Videos of the Hearing Office of State Engineer Hearings on Summary Judgement Issue of the Augustin Plains Ranch Application

NEW WATER GRAB ISSUES

Albuquerque Journal - Boarder Aquifers Two Nations - One Aquifer

Kelly Rd Now & History - 10 Day Radar - Phone App - Drought Map Drought Monitor Map

National News

WATER GRAB & SUPPORTING WEBSITES

From the NASA Solar Observatory

RECOMMENDED ORGANIZATIONS

Warehouse 1-10 is proud
to present WATER 2018
Saturday, March 24th - 1 to 3pm

December 13, 2017 - Videos of the Hearing
Office of State Engineer Hearings on
Summary Judgement Issue of the
Augustin Plains Ranch Application

Albuquerque Journal - Boarder Aquifers
Two Nations - One Aquifer

Kelly Rd Now & History - 10 Day
Radar - Phone App - Drought Map
Drought Monitor Map