Our water is not unused

THANK YOU for your Aug. 6 article, “Permit to Pump Water Denied,” about the State Engineer’s dismissal of the application filed by the Augustin Plains Ranch to pump 54,000 acre-feet of water a year out of the San Augustin Basin. We and our clients are grateful for your coverage of the issue, and believe it is an important one for all New Mexicans.

We would like to correct one statement made by Michel Jichlinski, the spokesman for the ranch. Jichlinski strongly implied no one is currently using the water in the San Augustin Basin and no one cares if the ranch appropriates that water. In fact, the ranch’s efforts to appropriate water from the basin — which have been ongoing since 2007 — have been protested by hundreds of people who live in the basin and who use the water there. His assertions the water in the basin is an unused resource and that no one cares about its use have no basis in fact.

We also would like to provide one piece of information (not) in the article. It mentioned only the motion for summary judgment filed by the New Mexico Environmental Law Center. The Catron County Board of County Commissioners, which was represented by Lorraine Hollingsworth and Pete Domenici Jr. of the Domenici Law Firm in Albuquerque, also filed a motion for summary judgment (and) the State Engineer granted both motions. DOUGLAS MEIKLEJOHN AND JAIMIE PARK Santa Fe

Editor’s note: Meiklejohn is executive director of N.M Environmental Law Center.