Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they are used for other purposes.

 

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are available on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).  Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not.  Previously issued FIRs and attachments may also be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

 

 

F I S C A L    I M P A C T    R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR

Campos

DATE TYPED

2/14/04

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE

 Bonito Lake as water  Source for Pecos Compact

SB

SM 19

 

 

ANALYST

 

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY04

FY05

FY04

FY05

 

NFI

 

See Narrative

General Fund

Recurring

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC Files

 

No Response Received From

Office of the State Engineer

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Memorial 19 states:

 

·        New Mexico has under-delivered water to Texas in the past.

 

·        The Rio Bonito is a tributary of the Pecos River and Bonito Lake, located at the headwaters of the Rio Bonito, impounds water that is then conveyed westerly into the Tularosa basin.

 

·        The Tularosa basin is not hydrologically connected to the Pecos River system.

 

·        The out-of-basin conveyance of water from a river tributary to the Pecos River affects the flows into the Pecos River.

 

·        Planning documents developed by water users in the Tularosa basin indicate their intention to ultimately end their reliance on diversions from Bonito Lake.

·        The current drought has demonstrated that, for the Ruidoso area, continued reliance on existing surface and ground water supplies may be problematic.

 

·        Ruidoso requires additional water supplies in order to provide a sustainable water supply for its existing population.

 

·        Bonito Lake could aid the state in meeting its delivery obligations to Texas under the Pecos River Compact and, at the same time, provide a much-needed water supply for the Ruidoso area.

 

These premises, the Memorial resolves:   

·     The Interstate Stream Commission be requested to investigate the potential to use water from Bonito Lake to aide the state in meeting its delivery obligations under the Pecos River Compact while simultaneously providing a water supply to Ruidoso.

 

·     The Interstate Stream Commission be requested to investigate the potential of alternate sources of supply for water users in the Tularosa basin, including analysis of using brackish waters and water from the Salt basin in southern Otero County.

 

·     The Interstate Stream Commission be requested to investigate the issuance state general obligation bonds to provide funds for alternate water supplies for the Ruidoso and Alamogordo areas.

 

·     The Interstate Stream Commission make a report of its findings to the appropriate interim water committee.

 

Significant Issues

 

·     A date by which the report is due should be included.

 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

This memorial does not contain an appropriation.  It will, however, result in administrative costs in staff time.  These costs should be readily absorbable into existing resources.

 

 

 

SJM/dm:lg