SENATE BILL 461

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Howie C. Morales

AN ACT

RELATING TO WATER; REQUIRING THE INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION TO EXPEND A PORTION OF THE NEW MEXICO UNIT FUND FOR WATER UTILIZATION ALTERNATIVES TO MEET WATER SUPPLY DEMANDS IN THE SOUTHWEST WATER PLANNING REGION; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] NEW MEXICO UNIT FUND--MINIMUM ALLOCATION FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES.--

          A. The interstate stream commission shall pay from the New Mexico unit fund the costs of implementing water utilization alternatives to meet water supply demands in the southwest water planning region of New Mexico that are categorized as nondiversion alternatives to the development or construction of a New Mexico unit in accordance with the provisions of Subsection B of this section.

          B. No less than seventy-seven million dollars ($77,000,000), indexed to 2014 dollars, of the total amount distributed to the state pursuant to Paragraph (2)(D)(i) of Section 403(f) of the federal Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968, as amended by Section 107(a) of the federal Arizona Water Settlements Act, Public Law 108-451, December 10, 2004, shall be allocated to implement nondiversion alternatives to meet water supply demands in the southwest water planning region of New Mexico, including projects for forest and watershed restoration and improvement; municipal conservation; agricultural conservation; infrastructure improvements; effluent reuse; and sustainable ground water use.

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