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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES

CONGRESS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR PROPOSED NATIVE

AMERICAN WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENTS.

WHEREAS, the Indian water rights settlement fund was

created by the legislature in 2005 to facilitate the

implementation of the state's portion of Indian water rights

settlements; and

WHEREAS, no state funding was provided in 2005 for the

Indian water rights settlement fund; and

WHEREAS, on April 19, 2005, the Navajo Nation and the

state of New Mexico executed a settlement agreement resolving

the claims of the Navajo Nation for the use of waters in the

San Juan river basin; and

WHEREAS, the implementation of the Navajo Nation

settlement in the San Juan river basin will provide water for

the Navajo Indian, Hogback-Cudei and Fruitland-Cambridge

irrigation projects and will result in the completion of the

Navajo-Gallup water supply project, including the Farmington-

Shiprock municipal pipeline, thereby making potable water

available to remote areas where drinking water is not

currently available; and

WHEREAS, negotiations are continuing regarding the

settlement of water rights in the Aamodt case involving the

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pueblos of San Ildefonso, Nambe, Pojoaque and Tesuque; and

WHEREAS, the implementation of a settlement in the

Aamodt case would secure water rights for the involved pueblos

and non-Indians alike, provide a regional water system and

drought reserve water supply and permit additional economic

development in that region; and

WHEREAS, negotiations are continuing regarding the

settlement of water rights in the Rio Pueblo de Taos stream

system; and

WHEREAS, the implementation of a settlement of water

rights in the Rio Pueblo de Taos stream system would secure

water rights for the Pueblo of Taos and for non-Indians within

the stream system; and

WHEREAS, the office of the state engineer has estimated

the state's share of the cost of the proposed Indian water

rights settlements will be seventy-five million dollars

($75,000,000) and has recommended that this funding be

appropriated in full in fiscal year 2007; and

WHEREAS, full funding of the Indian water rights

settlement fund will demonstrate the state of New Mexico's

commitment to implement the settlement of disputes regarding

Indian water rights for the benefit of all of the state's

citizens, Indian and non-Indian alike;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor

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of New Mexico be requested to include in the governor's

capital outlay appropriations for fiscal year 2007 significant

funding for the Indian water rights settlement fund as a

matter of statewide importance; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that New Mexico's congressional

delegation be requested to urge the involved federal agencies

to cooperate in the negotiation of Indian water rights

settlements in New Mexico and to support full federal funding

for these settlements once they have been entered into by all

parties; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to members of the state's congressional

delegation, the governor of New Mexico, the office of the

state engineer, the president of the Navajo Nation, the

speaker of the Navajo Nation council and the governors of the

pueblos of Nambe, Pojoaque, Taos, Tesuque and San Ildefonso.