For the 7 years I’ve been in New Mexico, the guiding principle on diverting the Gila River was “use it or lose it.” Use the water in NM before it gets to AZ, use “free” Federal money whenever you can get it.  Environment reporter Laura Paskus on how using the Gila River has become a lose-lose proposition, with incredibly shrinking plans having less and less chance of ever happening. With $14 million already spent.