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In the Roswell Artesian Basin the Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy District has an ongoing program of purchasing and retiring irrigated acreage. This program will assist in bringing the basin into balance and may reduce the saline water intrusion into fresh-water supplies. About 3,300 acres have been retired under this program. Previous estimates have placed the overdraft in the Roswell Artesian Basin at about 120,000 acre- feet per year; however, recent data indicate the basin may be much closer to a hydraulic balance than had been previously thought. TEXAS A problem of major concern to Texas is the water supply situa- tion in the lower Rio Grande Valley. Starr, Willacy, Hidalgo, and Cameron Counties define the area of concern. The climate is sub- tropical and provides an excellent growing condition for high yield- ing winter vegetable crops, cotton, and citrus. It also has been discovered as providing a sun country environment and there is a surge of in migration. Population is conservatively projected to increase 35 percent by year 2000. Over 750,000 acres are irrigated and the water supply for all purposes is short of meeting require- ments 70 percent of the time. The problem will get worse as the population and industry increase their demands. Inventories show there are over 500,000 acres of additional lands suitable for irri- gation. Meeting the future water needs and an additional potential for winter food crops is a problem Texas finds is of National con- cern and recommends Federal assistance in addressing the problem. The Lower Rio Grande is subject to periodic flooding often as- sociated with hurricane storms. Contributing to the problem is inadequate drainage. Proposals to correct the drainage condition have not adequately considered environmental problems. It is recom- mended that a program be developed that will satisfactorily con- sider all issues. The environmental concerns are of National significance and the problem should receive Federal participation. The El Paso SMSA and Juarez across the border in Mexico antic- ipates a growing water need that exceeds a sustainable supply. The Bureau of Reclamation has instituted a basin wide inter-agency study of potential solutions. The problem is of National and interna- tional concern. It is recommended the study be pursued to a con- clusion and potential solutions implemented as soon as possible. Texas recognizes the need to achieve a balance between develop- ment and environmental concerns. However, water resource develop- ment with strong economic needs have been unnecessarily delayed or obstructed by uncertain and vacillating environmental program admin- istration. Texas recommends a more responsive and expeditious en- vironmental program related to water resource development. - ')" '~O 1':".1_0. 13