As concern mounts on both sides of the border about a plan to export water from sources in
South Texas, the City of Laredo is doing its best to fight the plan. On Monday, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution against it. The plan, the brainchild of Clayton Williams’ Fort Stockton Holding Company, would extract about 41 million gallons a day from reservoirs in Pecos County. The aquifers act as feeders into the Pecos River, a tributary of the Rio Grande — the only water source for many border cities, including Laredo. Although Williams already extracts 41 million gallons per day to irrigate farmland in Pecos County area, Rio Grande International Study Center Director Jay Johnson Castro said that the exportation of water from the region will have bigger consequences for the watershed. Mayor Raul Salinas complained about the fact that Williams did not come to Laredo or send a messenger to address his concernsWilliams, however, sent a letter, which mentioned economic development.
Johnson Castro argued the point, saying that Williams’ economic development could happen at the loss of other communities down the river. Councilman Gene Belmares worried that estimated growth in Laredo will mean that the city may one day be forced to import water from an outside source — the same type of source that, by signing the resolution, the city is opposing.
“We may be faced with the same economic question that (Midland, the planned purchasers of
Williams’ water) is asking, which is how do we get more water,” Belmares said.“We don’t have the answers for that,” Johnson Castro replied, but added that the real solution involves cooperation between the United States and Mexico.With Williams’ current pumping of 41 million gallons a day during irrigation times, only about two or three of 46 Pecos County springs flow in the summertime. In the winter, all of them flow, according to Johnson Castro.“So there’s a direct correlation?” Belmares asked. “Yes,” Johnson Castro said. “Motion to approve,” Belmares said.
South Texas, the City of Laredo is doing its best to fight the plan. On Monday, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution against it. The plan, the brainchild of Clayton Williams’ Fort Stockton Holding Company, would extract about 41 million gallons a day from reservoirs in Pecos County. The aquifers act as feeders into the Pecos River, a tributary of the Rio Grande — the only water source for many border cities, including Laredo. Although Williams already extracts 41 million gallons per day to irrigate farmland in Pecos County area, Rio Grande International Study Center Director Jay Johnson Castro said that the exportation of water from the region will have bigger consequences for the watershed. Mayor Raul Salinas complained about the fact that Williams did not come to Laredo or send a messenger to address his concernsWilliams, however, sent a letter, which mentioned economic development.
Johnson Castro argued the point, saying that Williams’ economic development could happen at the loss of other communities down the river. Councilman Gene Belmares worried that estimated growth in Laredo will mean that the city may one day be forced to import water from an outside source — the same type of source that, by signing the resolution, the city is opposing.
“We may be faced with the same economic question that (Midland, the planned purchasers of
Williams’ water) is asking, which is how do we get more water,” Belmares said.“We don’t have the answers for that,” Johnson Castro replied, but added that the real solution involves cooperation between the United States and Mexico.With Williams’ current pumping of 41 million gallons a day during irrigation times, only about two or three of 46 Pecos County springs flow in the summertime. In the winter, all of them flow, according to Johnson Castro.“So there’s a direct correlation?” Belmares asked. “Yes,” Johnson Castro said. “Motion to approve,” Belmares said.
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