HOUSE MEMORIAL 65

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

George Dodge, Jr. and Debbie A. Rodella

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 16, 2017 AS "ACEQUIA DAY" IN THE NEW MEXICO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ACEQUIAS TO THE HISTORY, CULTURE, ECONOMY AND MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, for generations, acequias have supported a way of life centered around local agriculture and customs of sharing water; and

     WHEREAS, acequias are a centuries-old form of water governance in New Mexico that have created a cultural landscape with a web of waterways that nurture tens of thousands of acres of farmland; and

     WHEREAS, acequia customs and traditions regarding agriculture, seed saving, irrigation practices and food preservation are important aspects of the cultural heritage of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, acequias contribute to the well-being and livelihood of thousands of families who generate income from farming and ranching, thereby supporting diversification of New Mexico's economy through local food production; and  

     WHEREAS, acequias and community ditches number over seven hundred in New Mexico with each one governed, operated and maintained by elected commissioners and mayordomos; and

     WHEREAS, the role of acequias in local governance has been affirmed by laws enacted by the state of New Mexico recognizing acequias as political subdivisions and enabling acequias to have important powers in local water management; and  

     WHEREAS, for the past fifty years, acequias have come together to protect and defend water rights, advocate for water policies strengthening acequia governance and support funding programs for acequia infrastructure; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico acequia association was established in 1989 to advocate for water policy beneficial to acequias, and the New Mexico acequia commission was created in statute in 1993 to serve as an advisory body in state government; and

     WHEREAS, hydrological studies by the New Mexico water resources research institute at New Mexico state university have documented hydrological benefits of acequias, including aquifer recharge through earthen ditches; and

     WHEREAS, as water management is complicated by long-term drought and increasing demands for water, acequias will continue to be important in any decisions about water policy at the local and state levels;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE NEW MEXICO that February 16, 2017 be declared as "Acequia Day" in the house of representatives in honor of the contributions of acequias to the history, culture, economy and management of water resources in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the house of representatives recognize the importance of acequias in New Mexico water policy and encourage state agencies to consult with acequia leadership in decisions that may affect acequias; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico acequia association and the New Mexico acequia commission.

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