The city of Clovis is one of a few municipalities in eastern New Mexico that is growing in population according to the census. Elected leaders on both sides of the political aisle are working to address a need in order to help Clovis and Curry County maintain an essential for life.
“We’re rising to meet the challenges that we have with water in a number of ways,” said Mike Morris, mayor of Clovis.
The city gets its water from the Ogallala Aquifer and is solely dependent upon one single source for water at this point. Just like in the Texas Panhandle most of their water is used for agriculture.
“We’re working on conservation on a broader scale as we work with our partners at Cannon Air Force Base to attempt to retire agriculture pumping,” said Morris.
Regardless of political affiliation, if there is one thing that Democrats, Republicans, and Independents of Clovis and Curry County can agree on, in order to have a sustainable future both the water quality and water quantity need to improve.
“We are starting to think about the Farm Bill we are going to legislate,” said Teresa Leger Fernandez, congresswoman 3rd District New Mexico. “The farm bill next year and I think it’s important to come directly and meet directly with the ranchers and farmers to get their input on things that work.”
Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez of the third congressional district in New Mexico met with Ag Producers to go over a number of concerns regarding demand and consumption of water. Clovis is working on the Ute Pipeline project that originated in the 1960’s and is hoping federal, state, and local funds can provide a new water source for the area.
‘When you consider that we are one of seven federally authorized rural water projects in the United States of America, we're actually fortunate to have such a project and such an opportunity to be connected to a second source that’s actually a renewable source of water to help us achieve water sustainability going forward,” said Morris.
“This drought was not expected and we need their cows and the cattle because they feed us and so we need to help them,” said Fernandez.
The goal is to be tapped into the Ute Pipeline and have water running through it to Clovis and other cities and counties in eastern New Mexico by 2030.