February 25, 2005
8:54 PM
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IBWC HIRES ENGINEERING FIRM TO LOOK AT A NEW DAM FOR THE RIO GRANDE
Duran gives progress report on Whitlock show
The International Boundary and Water Commission is
hiring an engineering firm to look at the feasibility of building a
third dam on the Rio Grande.
IBWC Commissioner Arturo Duran makes the announcement on
this Sunday's Valley Newsline with Ron Whitlock show
on KRGV-TV Channel 5. Duran was in the Valley for last
Wednesday's 2005 Valley Water Summit, held at
Harlingen's Marine Military Academy.
Also on Whitlock's show, Sen. Frank Madla (D-San Antonio),
chair of the Senate Intergovernmental Relations Committee,
said he backed the City of Brownsville's efforts to
land a state-funded desalination plant that would draw water from
the Gulf of Mexico and convert it into drinkable tap water.
Duran first learned that a 1944 water treaty between the United
States and Mexico contains a provision for a third international dam
on the Rio Grande from Whitlock. Since last appearing on the show,
Duran said he had held talks with the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation and issued a contract with S&B
Engineering of Houston.
"They're going to be issued a task to do a more detailed
feasibility study on the location, the feasibility of a third dam
along the border," Duran said. "The Treaty calls for a
section between Eagle Pass and Laredo. However, the treaty also
calls for us to identify the best site location, so I think that the
feasibility study will be great to perform that kind of work."
Duran said he would be holding discussion with water rights
holders in the Valley every step of the way. He said the first
preliminary study could be ready during the first half of 2005.
Rio Grande Watermaster Carlos Rubenstein told Whitlock
that the initial questions would include the feasibility of building
a reservoir, where it would go, how much water could be stored, and
how would the water be divided between the United States and Mexico.
Rubenstein said there would also need to be a study on how a third
dam would impact the Rio Grande.
Ray Prewett, executive vice president of Texas
Citrus Mutual and co-chair of the Valley Water Summit, told
Whitlock that it would be wrong to assume that the Valley's water
problems gone away because reservoirs were currently at 95 percent
capacity. "We could be back into a very serious water shortage
situation in just a couple of years, or even less, depending on what
the weather does," Prewett said.
Sonia Kaniger, president of the Lower Rio Grande
Valley Water District Managers Association, said she was
pleased that assurances had been made to protect existing water
rights. Kaniger told Whitlock that with the reservoirs full, now was
the best time to start conducting feasibility studies on a third
dam.
Buddy Garcia, assistant Secretary of State
and border commerce coordinator for Gov. Rick Perry, told
Whitlock that if northern Mexico and southern Texas wanted to expand
business activity, the Valley would have to find alternative water
sources.
Corpus Christi and Freeport are vying with Brownsville to land a
state-backed multi-million dollar desalination plant. An advantage
Corpus Christi holds is that state Rep. Vilma Luna (D-Corpus
Christi) is vice chair of the budget-writing House
Appropriations Committee.
Madla said Brownsville's bid for the desalination plant deserved
serious consideration because the Valley was the fastest growing
region of the state and had important agricultural industries to
protect. "I think this project will come out ahead," Madla
told Whitlock.
Garcia said the fact that Brownsville had a "substantial
amount" or brackish water was also a factor.
Valley Newsline with Ron Whitlock airs Sunday mornings on
KRGV-TV Channel 5. The show is repeated as a Web cast
on www.valleynewsline.com the following week.
ã Copyright February 25, 2005
by Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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