New Mexico provisions included in federal water bill

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Water projects in New Mexico would get a boost as part of a massive bill passed by Congress that seeks to improve the nation’s dams and protect against floods and drought.

The bill, if signed by President Donald Trump, would authorize more than $6 billion in spending over 10 years for projects nationwide. It also sets up a framework to increase local input and improve transparency for large projects run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich say the Army Corps of Engineers also would be granted more flexibility to manage the Rio Grande to address drought.

Another provision directs the National Academies of Science to conduct a comprehensive study of the Rio Grande Basin to identify opportunities for conservation, water storage and ecosystem benefits.