PHOENIX - The Bureau of Reclamation and the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission have made available for public review and comment the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project that would divert Gila River and/or San Francisco River water and convey this water for storage in off-river sites in the Cliff-Gila Valley, in the Virden Valley, and/or along the San Francisco River in New Mexico. The project is proposed by the New Mexico Central Arizona Project (CAP) Entity.
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement analyzes the environmental impacts of four alternatives to construct, operate and maintain the proposed New Mexico Unit.
“The Draft EIS is unusual in that a preferred alternative has not been selected. The document shows that the alternatives are not financially viable without funding commitments. Until funding is secured, it’s likely that a no action alternative will be selected," said Alexander Smith, Deputy Area Manager for Reclamation’s Phoenix Area Office. “We need public feedback and encourage commenters to focus on the analysis of costs and benefits of the alternatives to make any future decisions."
Alternatives in the Draft EIS focus on how water users in New Mexico could contract, through water exchanges, for up to 14,000 average acre-feet of water each year from the Gila River system and underground water sources for use in southwestern New Mexico.
A 45-day public comment period on the Draft EIS is open from April 24, 2020 to June 8, 2020.
A virtual open house will be available on the project website, www.nmuniteis.com. No in-person public meetings will be scheduled. The Draft EIS is also available on the project website. Printed copies are available at: Reclamation’s Phoenix Area Office at 6150 W. Thunderbird Road, Glendale, AZ.
Comments may be submitted by email to NMUnitEIS@empsi.com, through the project website at www.nmuniteis.com, or by U.S. mail to:
Sean Heath
Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office
6150 W. Thunderbird Road
Glendale, AZ 85306
All comments must be submitted or postmarked on or before June 1, 2020. For more information about the Draft EIS, visit www.nmuniteis.com.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
