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Article: ELEPHANT BUTTE RESERVOIR; FARMERS TAKE WATER-RIGHTS CLAIMS TO COURT.(Local News)
- Article from:
- The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, NM)
- Article date:
- August 26, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 The Santa Fe New Mexican. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: STACI MATLOCK
A state District judge in Las Cruces will hear arguments today on whether the federal government has any rights to store and deliver water from Elephant Butte to Southern New Mexico and Texas farmers.
Either way, Judge Gerald A. Valentine's decision likely will be appealed, given the critical role Elephant Butte plays in New Mexico water policy and politics.
A group of Mesilla Valley farmers has joined with the great-grandson of the man who originally began building a dam near Elephant Butte to argue that the federal government didn't follow state water law and doesn't have legitimate water rights for Elephant Butte ...