The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission and the El Paso Water Utilities announce the selection of an alternative to be implemented for the El Paso-Las Cruces Regional Sustainable Water Project.

With the El Paso area facing the possibility of serious drinking water shortages in 25 years due to the depletion of limited groundwater resources, the project aims to address the impending water crisis. The goal of the project is to secure renewable future water supplies from the Rio Grande and to protect and maintain the sustainability of groundwater sources. Without the project, El Paso would suffer a devastating loss of drinking water from the Hueco Bolson aquifer, which is expected to run out of freshwater by 2025 under historical pumping conditions.

Under the selected alternative, known as River With Local Plants, raw surface water will be conveyed by the Rio Grande watercourse and diverted to water treatment plants adjacent to the river using fish-friendly diversion structures. The project includes acquisition of rights to the raw water supply and construction of facilities for water treatment, conveyance, and distribution and for aquifer storage and recovery.

"A secure water future is critical to the long-term survival of our community," said Ed Archuleta, General Manager of the El Paso Water Utilities. "We must implement this project in a timely fashion in order to assure a sustainable water supply for the region."

The River With Local Plants alternative has the following major features:

• Construction of surface water treatment plants in El Paso County's Upper Valley and in Hatch, Las Cruces, and Anthony, New Mexico
• Expansion of the Jonathan Rogers Water Treatment Plant in El Paso
• Construction of a 32-mile aqueduct to convey water from the Upper Valley Treatment Plant to northeast El Paso
• During periods of excess supply, treated water transported via aqueduct would be stored in the Hueco Bolson aquifer
• 2% of project costs set aside to fund fish and wildlife enhancements

The FEIS is available for inspection by appointment during normal business hours at El Paso Water Utilities (EPWU), 1154 Hawkins Blvd, El Paso, TX, 915-594-5681, and the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC), 4171 N. Mesa Street, Suite C-315, El Paso, Texas, 915-832-4741. The FEIS is also available at the following public libraries: Branigan Memorial Library, 200 East Picacho Avenue, Las Cruces, New Mexico; El Paso Public Library, 501 North Oregon Street, El Paso, Texas; New Mexico State University Library, Las Cruces, New Mexico; and University Library, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas. In addition, the FEIS will soon be available online at: www.ibwc.state.gov under the heading Environment and the sub-headings Compliance and EP/Las Cruces Sustainable Water Project.

For more information:

Mike Fahy, EPWU, 915-594-5681

Doug Echlin, USIBWC, 915-832-4741, dougechlin@ibwc.state.gov

Ed Fierro, EPWU, 915-594-5663