The November 28 meeting of the Rio Grande Citizens' Forum of the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) will feature a presentation about aquifers in the Paso del Norte region. The meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. at the Chamizal National Memorial, Administration Building Conference Room, 800 S. San Marcial in El Paso.

John Ashworth, Project Manager for the Far West Texas Regional Water Planning Group, will give the presentation about regional aquifers/groundwater resources. Additionally, officials from Mexico will discuss water quality and wastewater issues impacting the Rio Grande. Other topics on the meeting agenda include the Rio Bosque Wetland Park and updates on El Paso water resources and the Environmental Impact Statement for the USIBWC's Rio Grande Canalization Project between Percha Dam, New Mexico and El Paso. A complete agenda appears below.

The Rio Grande Citizens' Forum was established by the USIBWC in 1999 to facilitate the exchange of information regarding USIBWC activities on the Rio Grande between Percha Dam, New Mexico and Fort Quitman, Texas. It is designed to bring together community members, enabling the early and continued two-way flow of information, concerns, values, and needs between USIBWC and the general public, environmentalists, irrigation districts, municipalities, and others interested in the river.

Members of the Rio Grande Citizens' Forum Board, who serve as unpaid volunteers, represent a variety of interests along the Rio Grande in west Texas and southern New Mexico. The group is co-chaired by Carlos Marin, Principal Engineer with the USIBWC, and Kevin Bixby, Director of the Southwest Environmental Center in Las Cruces.

For more information:

Sally Spener
915-832-4175

sallyspener@ibwc.state.gov
 

II. Rio Bosque Wetland Park - John Sproul, UTEP-CERM
 

III. Aquifers in the Paso del Norte Region - John Ashworth, Project Manager for the Far West Texas Regional Water Planning Group, LBG-Guyton & Associates
 

IV. Mexican water quality standards - Ramiro Lujan Godinez, International Boundary and Water Commission, Mexican Section
 

V. Ciudad Juarez wastewater treatment - Salvador Lopez, Project Manager, Border Environment Cooperation Commission
 

VI. El Paso Water Resources - Mike Fahy, El Paso Water Utilities
 

VII. Canalization Project EIS Update - Doug Echlin, International Boundary and Water Commission, United States Section
 

VIII. Rio Grande Citizens' Forum Board Membership
 

IX. Public Comment