New Mexico Part of $6.5 Million Investment for Water Conservation

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By Unknown

Eastern New Mexico is one of seven priority areas to be impacted by a $6.5 million U.S. Department of Agriculture investment into water conservation and quality improvement for the Ogallala Aquifer.

Through the Ogallala Aquifer Initiative, the Natural Resources Conservation Service will work with agricultural producers on converting from irrigated to dryland crop systems. The goal for the four-year project is to reduce annual pumping by 1,190 acre-feet -- a total of 1.56 billion gallons.

"These federal funds come at an important time as Eastern New Mexico is feeling the impact of severe drought conditions over the past few years," Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., said in a release. "Investing in projects to promote water conservation will ensure that we are making the most of our scarce water resources and stretch them farther to support communities in eastern New Mexico."

The aquifer's 174,000 square miles covers part of eight states and nearly 20 percent of the country's total wheat, corn and cotton crops and cattle production regions, and is the High Plains' main supply for municipal water.

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