ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A ranching family is asking the state Supreme Court to weigh in on a fight over a $600 million proposal to pipe billions of gallons of water from rural western New Mexico to more populated areas of the drought-stricken state.
Attorneys for Ray and Carol Pittman filed a motion this week asking the court to order the state’s top water official to reject the latest application by Augustin Plains Ranch to pump and pipe water to supplement dwindling supplies in the Rio Grande Valley.
The commercial venture’s previous application was rejected two years ago. It was one of the most contested filings in the history of the state engineer’s office.
The state engineer’s office is reviewing the latest application but has yet to make any decision.
