U.S. House passes water bill with funding for Southern NM

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — The U.S. House of Representatives passed a wide-ranging water bill on Monday, July 22 that includes funding for water projects in Southern New Mexico, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez’s Office said.

Vasquez, D-New Mexico, said the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act includes funding for infrastructure projects throughout the state, including Dona Ana and Otero counties.

The Senate is still working on its version of the bill. This water bill has traditionally passed both houses of Congress with bipartisan support.

It also includes $50 million in increases in funding available for projects in New Mexico through two key Army Corps of Engineers programs dedicated to the state, Vasquez’s office said.

“Agua es vida. Water is life. That’s especially true for New Mexico. The projects that I secured in the Water Resources Development Act will help communities across New Mexico better handle droughts and floods while supporting our agricultural communities. My top priority in Congress is delivering federal support to New Mexico, and this bipartisan legislation does just that,” Vasquez said. “These investments will address long-standing issues and provide the resources needed to manage our water infrastructure effectively. From Otero to Doña Ana to Bernalillo County, I will continue to deliver support for the projects that our district depends on.”

The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA) included multiple stormwater management projects across New Mexico, including a master stormwater management plan in Doña Ana and Otero counties and authorization for a new dam in Hatch that would help prevent disasters like the major flood the community experienced in 2006, Vasquez’s office said.

The bill includes authorizations for studies for several new projects that impact Southern New Mexico:

• Dona Ana Water Supply Project which would direct the Army Corps of Engineers to work with Dona Ana County on a master stormwater management plan.
• Hatch Flood Control Project which would continue work on a project to prevent major flooding in Hatch.
• Otero County Flood Risk Mitigation Project which would direct the Corps to work with Otero County to develop a comprehensive stormwater management plan. This was listed as a “priority project” in the bill, Vasquez’s office said.

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