Lincoln Co. - More protests of water rights transfers filed

Out of three requested water rights transfers by the village of Ruidoso recently posted on the website of the New Mexico State Engineer, two are being protested by the Lincoln County Commission. The chairman called one of the requests involving a transfer between two different streams, "beyond insane." Commissioners also criticized the state's approach to giving public notice of permit applications. The only request not challenged involves a renewal of a permit for 11 years to change a point of diversion, place and purpose of 123 acre feet per year of groundwater and to change a point of diversion from groundwater to surface water and groundwater, by ceasing diversion on five wells within the Ruidoso Downs Race Track. An acre foot of water equates to 325,851 gallons of water. The applicant, the village of Ruidoso and Ruidoso Properties Irrevocable Management Trust, propose to begin diversion of the same amount of groundwater and surface waters of the Rio Ruidoso and supplemental groundwater from 11 wells and three surface water points for municipal purposes. Commission Chairman Jackie Powell, who tracks applications and water issues, pointed out that the request is an extension of an existing permit and the racetrack "is in the area and (the application is) kind of transferring water that is close." But she criticized the other two applications, including that one was filed in July, but only recently posted on the state engineer's website...more