SAN AUGUSTIN WATER COALITION
PO Box 613, Datil, New Mexico 87821

MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING, May 30, 2009

The meeting was called to order by Ruth Guin at 6:05 PM , at the Datil Elementary School Gymnasium. There were 122 registered members present. In addition to the speakers, representatives of The Sierra Club, Representative Harry Teague, and Senator Tom Udall were also present. All board members were present.

Chairman Guin opened with a recounting of SAWC accomplishments since incorporation and then introduced the speakers. Attorney Bruce Frederick of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center spoke about the Augustin Plains Ranch, LLC (APR) permit application in terms of NM water law. He was followed by NM Representative Don Tripp who spoke about NM population growth and the strain that is putting on water resources. He advised us to be diligent and persistent. Hydrologist Mike Landis told us that, under the Rio Grande Compact, no water from NM counts as going to Texas if it enters the Rio Grande above Elephant Butte Lake . The final speaker, water rights expert Suzanne Smith, urged us to know our water rights and to use the internet for research.

A question and answer period followed in which all of the speakers participated.

The final item of business was the election of three board members to fill three expiring terms. Ruth Guin, Nichole Sanders, and Dell Gigante were nominated and re-elected by acclimation.

The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM .

Respectfully submitted by Tom Cook, Secretary