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Water Management Study: Upper Rio Grande Basin The agreement also called for the formation of a "Joint Settlement Commission," now called the New MexicoJTexas Water Commission (Commission), to organize and encourage major items ofthe settlement. Although the Commission was created through the signatures of the three parties (El Paso, EBID and NMSU) to the settlement agreement, it has six voting members, three from each state. Two of New Mexico's members represent EBID and one comes from NMSU. Texas' members include one representative each from the El Paso County Water Improvement District (EPCWlDJ, the El Paso Water Utility Public Service Board, and the University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP). The Commission also has three advisory committees covering management, legal, and environmental issues.s ".. .. ~~. , The Commission serves largely as a forum to facilitate regional communica- tion, cooperation, and planning. It has no authority, beyond the background commitment of its individual members, to compel action. The powers of the states and the individual members have not been delegated to the Commission. If a decision by members of the Commission does not require action by anyone else, they proceed to act on it. If, however, it requires the regulatory or enforcement authority of an outside body, such as permission from the New Mexico SEO, the Commission cannot supersede that body's authority. All of the Commission's decisions have been made by consensus. The primary incentive to reach consensus on issues brought before the Commission is the mutual desire to avoid further litigation. This incentive is considerable, as the bitter taste of a ll-year suit costing millions of dollars has not been forgotten. ,':<- " ,", :.',. ,~;: %-; ,.;0; Since its formation in 1991, the Commission has obtained funds totaling $1.9 million from the Texas Water Development Board, the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, UTEP, BuRec, and local contributions from both New Mexico and El Paso. These funds have supported studies examining the possibility of year-round supply of surface water to the Las Cruces-El Paso area. t~:~ To date, both an initial and a final feasibility study of the Rio Grande conveyance, storage, and treatment system have been conducted. The two '-.1 5 The Management Advisory Committee has representatives from the City of Las Cruces, Dona Ana County and the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), The Legal Advisory Committee has attorneys and a representative from the SEO. The Environmental Advisory Committee has representatives from the Southwest Environmental Center. New Mexico Game & Fish Department, and the U.S, Fish & Wildlife Service. r:' ',';' I.:; ,. :" 114 ('.r 1)00- '..i"'Jv,J I:; e