Submitted by threeriverscrossing, Oct 17, 2007 13:43

Reality Check: New Mexico and Michigan

The State of Michigan has access to the world largest source of fresh water along with other Great Lakes states like New York, which is Senator Clinton represents. Many critics have stated that the Great Lakes water levels have dropped off critically and diversion is certainly out of the question, or is it? That all depends of on your point of view. The Great Lakes region drop in water level does not have a anything to do with global warming, drought or diversion of water to the West but everything to do with poor regional water management and conservation by the states around the Great Lakes region The Great Lake States have been poor stewards by failing to work together to develop a cohesive Great Lakes water management and conservation policies and such failure has resulted in Great Lakes states mismanaging individual water projects that have effected water level and industrial and human pollution that has lowered water quality for humans and wildlife. It will take working together with other states, learning from each other and sharing know-how in resource management, whether it may be water, solar, wind, or energy.

Just a few facts about water management and conservation in the State of New Mexico. Albuquerque is the largest population center in the State of New Mexico which sits on top a very large natural water aquifer that has provided the city with water through most of the city's history. In recent years the influx of new residents and businesses have impacted the aquifer water level to critical use in the future. To the credit to New Mexico's Leadership, Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Pete Domenici and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, they have all worked together and taken bold steps in water management, production and conservation. The State of New Mexico has made capital investments in culling a new source of water in the San Juan-Chama Project. As a result the project has paid off in several ways, the alternate method of water diversion and irrigation has offset the any additional usage of the aquifer as the main source and now the aquifer serves as a reserve backup source of water. The water management and conservation project also served an important engine of the New Mexico economy to drawing new enterprises to the region as a viable place to do business which provides the state with revenue and jobs (New Mexico is the fifth largest state by sqaure miles and ranks in the top ten in the fast growing state economies inthe U.S.) The bottom line, the project has reduce water usage of the aquifer by 1/3 while New Mexico population has grown by 1/3. Lastly, the project as gained much international attention for water management and conservation innovation and serves as a model for other countries with goals of water management and conservation.

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