SENATE MEMORIAL 20

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

RAISING AWARENESS OF THE DETERIORATION OF DAMS IN NEW MEXICO AND URGING STATE LEADERS TO COLLABORATE IN ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE, STATEWIDE DAM REHABILITATION PROGRAM.

 

     WHEREAS, dams serve a critical role in the infrastructure of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, dams provide essential benefits to the state and its residents, including flood control, water storage, irrigation, hydropower generation and recreation, all of which are vital to the economic and social well-being of the state's communities; and

     WHEREAS, the majority of dams in New Mexico are older than fifty years, with an average age of sixty-five years, and numerous dams are more than one hundred years old; and

     WHEREAS, dam engineering and construction technology have improved over the past many decades, and past practices have been outlawed; and

     WHEREAS, dams in the state have deteriorated from age, have been insufficiently maintained and repaired and, due to changes in the environment and downstream area, should now be classified as high hazard potential dams; and

     WHEREAS, many of the state's dams are intact but deficient; and

     WHEREAS, the frequency of erratic and unpredictable storms has increased in recent years, with fifteen flash flood emergencies in 2024; and

     WHEREAS, Peterson dam overtopped and its diversion structures and channels failed; and

     WHEREAS, watersheds were burned down by the Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon fire; and

     WHEREAS, Roswell, after receiving fifty percent of its average annual rainfall in a matter of hours, and Ruidoso experienced devastating flooding, with numerous overtopping incidents; and

     WHEREAS, the dam safety bureau of the office of the state engineer has been actively regulating dams and updating lists of deficient high hazard dams; and

     WHEREAS, the dam safety bureau has been successful in applying for and receiving dam rehabilitation grants, recently completed the first phase of a screening level risk assessment and developed a geographic information system tool to expedite hydrologic analysis and improve risk assessment; and

     WHEREAS, while these efforts have helped the state to identify the highest risk dams and prioritize them for risk reduction, these efforts have also clarified that the bureau is a regulatory agency and does not have the mandate or resources to rehabilitate dams, nor is there a statewide program in New Mexico to support dam rehabilitation; and

     WHEREAS, the potential impact of dam failures to the state would be catastrophic and threatens water storage, agricultural production, public safety and key state industries; and

     WHEREAS, the proactive rehabilitation and modernization of New Mexico's dams through a statewide program would protect the state's vital resources and industries, as well as ensure the public's safety and welfare;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state of New Mexico recognize the importance of dams and the need for timely intervention as the risk of a catastrophic dam incident continues to rise as the dams age without adequate maintenance and face increasingly severe storms; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that leaders of the state be urged to collaborate in establishing a comprehensive, statewide program to support dam rehabilitation through identifying needs, prioritizing projects, seeking funding and assisting dam owners with planning, project development, applying for grants and managing the grants and projects; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the director of the water resource allocation program of the office of the state engineer, the secretary of homeland security and emergency management, all members of the legislature, the office of the state engineer for the state engineer and for distribution to all owners and operators of dams in New Mexico and members of the New Mexico watershed and dam owners coalition.

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