Kathmandu— The Trump administration has instructed contractors building the border wall in drought-stricken New Mexico to cease drilling new wells, following concerns raised by local ranchers who rely on groundwater for their cattle. Russell Johnson, a cattle rancher whose property borders the construction site, warned that pumping water could lead to an immediate crisis for his livestock and potentially put him out of business.

Water Needs vs. Livestock Survival

Ranchers in New Mexico are facing a critical dilemma as border wall construction crews drill wells to supply the massive amounts of water needed for concrete production, road building, and dust suppression. Russell Johnson, whose property runs along the border, expressed his concerns at a public meeting after noticing an industrial well being drilled on land he leases for grazing cattle. The well was expected to pump 300 gallons per minute, significantly more than the three to seven gallons pumped by his own wells.

Johnson’s ranch has already been forced to reduce its herd size due to ongoing drought conditions. He emphasized that any further reduction in available water could lead to a catastrophic situation for local livestock and potentially put him out of business.

Regulatory Oversight Challenges

The New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, which oversees well drilling across the state, has reported that eight wells drilled by border wall contractors along the southern border were done without proper permits. The office stated that all non-tribal wells in New Mexico must have permits from the state engineer before they can be drilled or water pumped from them.

CBP did not respond to questions about whether federal agencies have a right to pump groundwater on federally owned land without state oversight, raising further concerns among local ranchers and environmentalists.

Political Maneuvering

Both candidates in the race for New Mexico’s 2nd congressional district seat claimed credit for the moratorium on well drilling. Republican candidate Greg Cunningham announced the news over social media, while incumbent Congressman Gabe Vasquez spoke about the issue on the House floor earlier this month.

Cunningham stated that he advocated for the agreement between CBP and border wall contractors, emphasizing his role in bringing attention to ranchers’ concerns. Meanwhile, Vasquez highlighted his efforts to raise awareness of the illegal drilling by the administration.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.