Lansford seeks summit

The Clovis city commission was likely expecting a short talk from Mayor David Lansford over his attendance at a recent conference.

He had more in the pipeline, however.

Lansford, slated to give a report on his time at last week’s Water Excellence Conference at the University of Denver at the conclusion of Thursday’s commission meeting, pivoted his talk toward what the city and the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority can do toward solving immediate water needs.

He’s asking that a water summit be held in the city at the end of June, and that the work continue on a program that could give incentives for ag producers who give water rights for municipal use.

“We’re looking for a win-win situation,” said Lansford, who has had two unsuccessful attempts so far to get Department of Agriculture monies for such a purpose. “They’re honorable people, but they want a proper compensation for that resource.”

The Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System, more commonly known as the Ute Water Project, involves pumping reserved water from the Ute Reservoir to member entities in Curry and Roosevelt counties.

Lansford supports the project, but said it’s “anybody’s guess” when it will be finished. The project will require at least $500 million to complete, and 60 percent of the $50 million raised over the life of the project has gone to administration and engineering.

Meanwhile, Lansford said, he and other municipality leaders have to field questions from prospective industries, and the Department of Defense regarding the future of Cannon Air Force Base. If somebody asks him what the water situation will be in 2031, Lansford said he couldn’t give an honest answer.

Lansford said Authority Chair and former Clovis Mayor Gayla Brumfield has been successful nailing down federal dollars and has a passion for it, and he supports her efforts.

He sees his passion on the authority as working on interim water solutions, and asked that be the direction he gets from the commission that appointed him to the authority.

“We have to attempt everything to conserve our groundwater supply,” Lansford said, “to fill the gap until the Ute Project is online.”

Lansford said he started to seek solutions many years ago after Duke Energy held off on plans to set up shop in Clovis due to water concerns. The message he’s since received from the federal government is that the best chance to get money for the Ute Water Project is to show entities are doing everything they can to conserve the current water supply.

He noted the city now has a three-pronged approach that includes building an effluent reuse pipeline, EPCOR Water rebate programs for purchasing efficient appliances and xeriscaping and a voluntary conservation program that asks residents to only water lawns three days a week from April 1 through October.

He said more endeavors are needed to create a 40-year water supply plan, including a stormwater management plan that would allow the area’s playa lakes to recoup as much water as possible.

Lansford also noted it can’t just be the work of one body, be it city, county or otherwise. He said a stormwater management plan would be best tackled by Curry County, and that a water summit could be best planned by the city’s water policy advisory board.

Lansford said he’s not against using the board’s entire $5,000 annual budget on the summit.

City Commissioner Sandra Taylor-Sawyer asked why the target was 40 years, instead of 30 or 50. Blake Prather, who also attended the conference, said 40 years is a benchmark the Office of the State Engineer has used for various long-term plans.

Commissioners expressed support, with Commissioner Tom Martin reiterating that the process should be equitable for the ag producers giving up the product.

“It’s up to us, Commissioner Bobby Sandoval said, “to educate ourselves on how this is a good thing, so we can make the case to the farmers.”