America's Most Endangered Rivers - (Page 33) The Gila and G l o b a l Wa r m i n g The dwindling precipitation, higher evaporation rates and reduced flow from mountain snowpack that will come with global warming could greatly reduce water levels in the Gila. Diverting water to surface reservoirs that will lose ever-increasing quantities of water through evaporation is particularly inefficient. Local leaders should instead look to increased water efficiency and ample, rechargeable groundwater supplies to meet local needs. As the flows of other Southwest rivers decrease, the Gila could be one of the last refuges in the region for many fish and wildlife species. Gila River from development for decades. The Arizona Water Settlements Act (AWSA) of 2004 authorizes up to $128 million for implementation of any water project designed to meet New Mexico’s future water needs. The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (ISC), a governmental body with broad powers to develop New Mexico’s waters, has proposed a project that would divert up to 14,000 acre-feet of water from the Gila River and its tributary, the San Francisco River, every year. This project would require a diversion structure and huge pumping station, a power station, a massive pipeline and/or canal system, and an off-stream dam and reservoir. The cost is projected at more than $300 million — far exceeding the $128 million subsidy. The additional cost would be shouldered in part by local taxpayers and burden local government with debt. Implementation of proven water efficiency measures would sharply reduce the amount of water needed and would be more cost-effective than the proposed diversion. Estimates show that Silver City, New Mexico, for example, can extend its municipal water supply by 10 years through reasonable water conservation measures — just switching to drip irrigation would save area farmers 30–50 percent of current water use. If, at some point, more water is needed, the region’s future water needs can be met sixteen times more cheaply by developing groundwater from a regional aquifer that is recharged annually by rain and snowfall. is needed by local industry, agriculture, and domestic use and would have severe ramifications. Subsequent lowering of the local water table could negatively impact groundwater wells used by valley residents. The diversion would impair the river’s natural flows, impeding growth of streamside vegetation and threaten native birds and fish. Additionally, the industrial development required for this project would blemish a pastoral valley that has remained largely unchanged for the past century, threatening real estate values and recreational potential. Additional water is not yet needed in this relatively unpopulated region, and some fear that once Gila water is diverted under the guise of meeting local water needs the pipeline would be extended to water-guzzling urban sprawl in Las Cruces, NM or even El Paso, TX, instead. What Can Be Done The ISC has promoted a planning process under the AWSA focused solely on a Gila diversion. Recognizing the threat posed to this precious resource, Governor Richardson vetoed funds to develop Gila River water in 2007 and directed the ISC to include all stakeholders and analyze the full range of alternatives available — including a “no-diversion” alternative. The ISC must do as directed by Governor Richardson for the sake of communities who depend on a free-flowing Gila River. Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) have secured funding for planning under the AWSA. They should specify that these funds be used only to analyze and develop cost-effective and water-efficient alternatives to meet predicted local water supply needs rather than promoting unsustainable future growth elsewhere. CONTACT INFO Eli Weissman, American Rivers, 202-347-7550 ext. 3010, eweissman@AmericanRivers.org Gila Conservation Coalition Partners: Allyson Siwik, Gila Resources Information Project, 575-538-8078, info@gilaconservation.org Todd Schulke, Center for Biological Diversity, 575-574-5962 tschulke@biologicaldiversity.org Dutch Salmon, Chair, Gila Conservation Coalition, 575-388-3763, dutch@high-lonesomebooks.com Melanie Gasparich, Upper Gila Watershed Alliance, 575-313-2203, director@ugwa.org What’s At Stake The amount of water that would be diverted from the Gila River would dwarf what TO TA K E AC T I O N : W W W. AMERICANRIVERS.ORG/GILA DENNIS O’KEEFE http://www.gilaconservation.org http://www.biologicaldiversity.org http://www.gilaconservation.org http://www.ugwa.org/ http://www.americanrivers.org/gila
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.