Conchas Dam project receives funding

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, D-N.M., report the Senate has approved legislation funding New Mexico’s two national laboratories and a variety of key water-related projects.

The Senate’s version of the 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill cleared the Senate on Wednesday night, according to a news release from both senators. A House-Senate panel will convene in the coming weeks to finalize the bill.

Area water funding benefiting from the bill:

• Eastern New Mexico Investigations Program — $50,000 for planning associated with improved water management in the Pecos and Canadian River basins in Colfax, Mora, Harding, San Miguel, Quay, Guadalupe and De Baca counties.

• Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System — $500,000 for design and construction of intake structure at Ute Reservoir for the Ute pipeline project.

• Tucumcari Project — $41,000 for expenses associated with operation of Conchas Dam and Reservoir northwest of Tucumcari.

• Conchas Lake — $1,796,000 for continued management activities at Conchas Lake.