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Page 3 of 3 <br />She was expected to answer questions about the program in a news conference at 12 p.m. PST Friday. <br />As part of her program, dubbed Water 2025, Norton wants to focus federal dollars and technology in key Western <br />watersheds to predict, prevent and alleviate water supply conflicts. <br />President Bush's budget calls for an initial investment of $11 million in such efforts. <br />The secretary said her initiative could help stretch existing supplies through maintaining and modernizing her <br />department's network of dams, reservoirs, pumping stations and pipelines. Investments in research and <br />development could help provide more affordable ways to boost water supplies through desalination. <br />"Water 2025 provides a basis for public discussion of the realities that face the West, so that decisions can be <br />made at the appropriate level in advance of water supply crises," Norton said. <br />© 2003 The Santa Fe New Mexican, All Rights Reserved <br />5/5/2003 <br />