46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

RELATING TO WATER; PROVIDING LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL FOR THE WATER TRUST BOARD TO MAKE LOANS OR GRANTS FOR QUALIFYING WATER PROJECTS FROM THE WATER PROJECT FUND; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

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

Section 1. AUTHORIZATION OF PROJECTS.--Pursuant to the provisions of Section 72-4A-9 NMSA 1978, the legislature authorizes the water trust board to make loans or grants from the water project fund to the following political subdivisions for the following qualifying projects on terms and conditions established by the water trust board and the New Mexico finance authority:

A. to the city of Espanola for the Espanola valley regional San Juan-Chama water diversion project;

B. to the city of Santa Fe for the Sante Fe regional San Juan-Chama water diversion project;

C. to the town of Taos for the Taos valley regional San Juan-Chama water diversion project;

D. to the city of Gallup for the Navajo-Gallup water supply project;

E. to the city of Bloomfield for the Agua Para Los Vecinos regional water system project;

F. to the Colfax soil and water conservation district for a watershed restoration and management project;

G. to the Ute creek soil and water conservation district for a watershed restoration and management project;

H. to the De Baca soil and water conservation district for a salt cedar, Russian olive and mesquite eradication project;

I. to the Claunch-Pinto soil and water conservation district for a watershed restoration and management project;

J. to the upper Hondo soil and water conservation district for an eradication project along the upper Hondo river and Rio Bonito;

K. to the San Francisco soil and water conservation district for a water quality and monitoring equipment project;

L. to the Tierra y Montes soil and water conservation district for a salt cedar eradication project;

M. to the Edgewood soil and water conservation district for a watershed restoration and management project; and

N. to the New Mexico office of Indian affairs for the Taos war chief of the Pueblo of Taos to conduct a watershed restoration and management project.

Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the water project fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2003 and subsequent fiscal years to carry out the provisions of the Water Project Finance Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

Section 3. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.