veto

On April 5, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham took a big step toward protecting the wild Gila River when she vetoed $1.698 million in funding requested by the Interstate Stream Commission for diversion planning and design. 

A hearty thank-you to the governor for taking this major step forward to fulfill her pledge to end work on the Gila River diversion project. 

In her plan for managing the state’s water released last year, the governor stated she will “end work on the Gila River Diversion Project” given that “there is little to show for the millions of dollars spent on staff, lawyers and studies” with only one year left to secure approval of the project. She supported use of the Arizona Water Settlements Act funds for water efficiency, conservation and restoration projects. 

We encourage Governor Lujan Grisham to take the additional steps to finally end work on this wasteful diversion project and instead fund community water projects to ensure a secure water supply for everyone in southwest New Mexico.

Please thank the Governor today for the veto and support her pledge to use Arizona Water Settlements Act monies to fund priority community water projects throughout southwest New Mexico rather than an unjust and environmentally damaging diversion project.