I don’t know southern New Mexico water issues, so I’ll offer up this Las Cruces Sun-News story without comment, except to suggest that the issue is worth following:

Local conservation groups are balking at the idea that the Gila and San Francisco rivers could be used to supply water to Doña Ana County as part of a proposed construction project to divert water to southwest New Mexico.

The suggestion was brought up by Rep. Joe Stell, D-Carlsbad, outgoing chairman of New Mexico’s legislative Water and Natural Resources Committee, during a recent meeting by the committee. Stell said while counties in southwest New Mexico should be first in line to benefit from the water, it could also be used to help meet a growing demand for water in Las Cruces.