Water authority welcomes new board member

The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority board welcomed a new member from Elida Thursday at the board’s regular monthly meeting.

Durward Dixon, mayor of Elida, farmer and rancher, was sworn in on the six member board. He joins board chairman and Clovis mayor Mike Morris, board vice-chairman and Portales mayor Ron Jackson, board secretary and Clovis city commissioner Chris Bryant, board member and Clovis city commissioner Juan Garza and Portales city council member Jim Lucero.

Dixon has served on the board before, “even before it was called the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority.” The seat he holds now is rotated yearly between Elida and Texico representatives. Texico’s Max Carter had occupied the seat on the board in the past year.

“I’ve been a supporter of the project since the beginning,” Dixon said. “My knowledge of it has grown as the project has grown.”

Dixon says the scarcity of water in the Elida area is what has held Elida back for 100 years. Dixon noted at one time the town had hotels, cattle yards, lumber yards, saloons and more.

“I’ve just heard my whole life that lack of water has held us back,” Dixon said.

The town’s water supply comes from a well field about 11 miles from Elida. It is supplemented by water from two smaller wells near town.

“We’re on our 3rd well field in my lifetime,” Dixon said. “when this one runs out I don’t know what we’re going to do. This is the last one.”

Dixon says Elida will be the last hookup of the Ute water pipeline. He expects substantial completion in eight years.

Dixon admits there’s been a lot of controversy over the Ute pipeline project over the years. He says the matter is a thing that “has been studied to death.”

“It’s not going to be the end-all, save-all,” Dixon said.

Dixon noted whoever set Elida up years ago didn’t reserve enough for Elida to use all Ute pipeline water needed.

“We will still have to supplement pipeline water with a little groundwater,” Dixon said.