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El Paso commissioners back staff outreach to Urban Waters Federal Partnership
Summary
County commissioners heard a USGS overview of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership and expressed consensus to direct staff to join the partnership and pursue an ambassador role and funding, pending further outreach to city and local partners.
A majority of the El Paso County Commissioners Court signaled support Thursday for staff to pursue joining the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, a federal interagency program that helps communities reconnect with waterways and advance water-quality and community revitalization projects.
The item opened with a presentation requested by Commissioner Ricardo Coronado and delivered by representatives associated with the U.S. Geological Survey and the partnership. Emery Carlos, identified in the meeting as a USGS hydrologist, summarized the program’s purpose and structure, saying the partnership “helps communities . . . connect with their waterways” and that the program “does three main things,” including improving interagency coordination and supporting community-led efforts.
County officials emphasized next steps. Commissioner Coronado said the court should “step up” and join the partnership and then press the city of El Paso, El Paso Water and other regional stakeholders to participate. Commissioner Coronado and other commissioners discussed the program’s potential to address stormwater, flooding and wetlands preservation. Commissioner Coronado later asked staff to begin participation and outreach; county staff said they have already briefed some city representatives and regional partners.
Rob Henrion, participating as a longtime program volunteer, described the ambassador role as a “nexus” for an Urban Waters zone: a single person who coordinates partners, helps secure funding and supports projects. The presenters said an ambassador may be full- or part-time and is typically hosted by a local organization rather than the federal government. They noted other program resources can include USGS matching funds and EPA restoration grants; the presenters said USGS had provided matching funds last year on the order of $1,500,000 nationally.
Public comment came from Maya Sanchez of the El Paso Community Foundation, who urged the court to support an ambassador and offered foundation help identifying nonprofit hosts and funding mechanisms. County staff briefed the court on examples of other Urban Waters projects (such as San Antonio’s West Side creeks) and discussed regional outreach already under way with New Mexico jurisdictions and federal partners such as the International Boundary and Water Commission.
The court agreed there was value in forming a local Urban Waters collaboration and directed staff to move forward with joining the partnership and coming back with options for participation and funding. County staff said they would seek input from the city, El Paso Water and local institutions and would return with formal next steps.
The court did not adopt a budget appropriation at Thursday’s meeting; staff said funding would be discussed later, and that an ambassador’s salary is often supported by a mix of local contributions and grants.
Why it matters: The Rio Grande and its urban tributaries are central to regional flood control, water supply and environmental quality. Joining the Urban Waters Federal Partnership would tie El Paso County into a federal-local network that can combine technical support, grant opportunities and interagency coordination to pursue local water-quality and access projects.
