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<br />Ensenada Land and Water Association objected to the application, alleging that the transer <br />would impair existing water rights and would be contrary to the public interest. The state <br />engineer found no impairment of water rights and approved the transfer.58 <br /> <br />Ensenada appealed the state engineer's decision to district court, contending that <br />the transfer would not be in the public interest because it would result in a permanent loss <br />of farmland and greater financial obligations associated with ditch maintenance costs being <br />born by fewer irrigators. Tierra Grande, the project developer, argued that the diversion <br />would enhance economic development in the community because the resort would create <br />additional tourism industry related jobs.59 <br /> <br />Judge Art Encinias overturned the state engineer's ruling, He determined that the <br />community values tied to the use of water for agriculture were of higher priority than the <br />economic values attributable to recreational development. Judge Encinias concluded that <br />it is simply assumed by the applicants that greater economic benefits are <br />more desirable than the preservation of a cultural identity. This is clearly not <br /> <br />so. <br /> <br />Northern New Mexicans possess a fierce pride over their history, <br />traditions and culture, This region of northern New Mexico and its living <br />culture are recognized at the state and federal levels as possessing significant <br />cultural value, not measurable in dollars and cents. The deep-felt and <br />tradition-bound ties of northern New Mexico families to the land and water <br /> <br />are central to the maintenance of that culture. <br /> <br />I am persuaded that to transfer water rights, devoted for more than a <br />century to agricultural purposes, in order to conduct a playground for those <br />who can pay is a poor trade, indeed.60 <br /> <br />28 <br />