Associated Press
LAS CRUCES — Rules proposed by the state engineer that would cap water use for farmers during dry years have upset Dona Ana County pecan growers.
The proposed limit would not be enough to produce a pecan crop, and it could hurt the industry overall, said Phillip Arnold, a Las Cruces grower and buyer.
''If we stress these trees, those trees will be affected for more than one year,'' Arnold said. ''It may take that tree one, two, five, six years to recuperate, depending on the severity of the damage.''
State Engineer John D'Antonio released the draft regulations in November. He has said they're needed to ensure the state has enough water to meet its downstream delivery obligations.
The rule causing concern among growers calls for limiting them to 4 acre-feet of water per acre each year regardless of whether it comes from the Rio Grande or a well. An acre-foot is 325,851 gallons, enough to supply about two households annually.
Arnold said pecan farmers need about 112 acre-feet more than the proposed 4 acre-feet to see a profit.
D'Antonio said there's some misunderstanding about the proposal. The limitation wouldn't apply to each farmer directly, but rather, the entire usage for the basin would have to average about 4 acre-feet. Some farmers, depending on their circumstances, might be entitled to use more.
D'Antonio said farmers also would be able to lease water from one another to make up for shortfalls.
The limitation, D'Antonio said, is one of several steps needed to keep from over-pumping the basin.
D'Antonio said lower Rio Grande farmers turn to pumps during drought as if there weren't a water shortage. He said that can't continue, especially since there's a trend of farmers switching their acreage to water-intensive pecan trees.
Pecan farmers and the Elephant Butte Irrigation District have lodged complaints about the rules with D'Antonio's office, and an attorney for the irrigation district said EBID would sue if the regulations are approved in their current form.
D'Antonio said he extended the comment period on the proposed rules until Jan. 31. He plans to talk with farmers and groups in the Las Cruces area in upcoming weeks about their concerns.
''We want to make sure we have ample time to meet with them,'' he said. ''What we don't want to do is get it into the courts because we don't make any progress. I think we can sit down and see where there's some give and take.''
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