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New Mexico has had to take action in regards to the Pecos River water allocations as a result of a suit filed by the state of Texas. This has forced it to make very unpopular decisions as a result. Throughout the West there are interstate compacts regarding the use of water allocations. As the groundwater is depleted and surface water become a more significant source for drinking and agricultural water, there are fewer options that can be made without some segment of the population being impacted more than others. This is not an individual consumer choice. It does demonstrate the need for regional water planning for long-term use. It does demand a definition of the public welfare in prioritizing water allocations.

Without planning the burden will be passed on disproportionately on some and to the benefit of others. Sustainability establishes a common system of values for decision-makers and a mechanism for implementation that incorporates the needs and concerns of all. We can function effectively, if we incorporate all views and take them into consideration before the worst case scenario manifests itself. The option is to disregard the needs of the many in favor of the benefit to the few. As we have seen in New Orleans this results in a higher price paid by some than by others when the worst case scenario occurs.

Learn more about this author, Martin Zehr.
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