SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 37
47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006
INTRODUCED BY
Carlos R. Cisneros
A JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, THE FOREST AND WATERSHED RESTORATION INSTITUTE AT NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY, THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION TO COLLABORATE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FOREST AND WATERSHED HEALTH PLAN AND THE NON-NATIVE PHREATOPHYTE/WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN.
WHEREAS, New Mexico is recognized as a national leader in watershed restoration and management, because it has adopted two cutting-edge statewide strategic plans, the forest and watershed health plan and the non-native phreatophyte/watershed management plan, each of which was requested by the legislature and the governor; and
WHEREAS, the creation of the plans was predicated on the current diminished state of New Mexico's watersheds, and because existing and projected drought conditions in New Mexico underscore the need to give an even higher priority to protecting and restoring New Mexico's watersheds, water supply and water quality; and
WHEREAS, recommendations from the forest and watershed health plan and the non-native phreatophyte/watershed management plan call for the agencies to implement the plans through a broadly inclusive collaborative process, recognizing that New Mexico's continued national leadership in watershed restoration is dependent upon the successful implementation of the plans through such a process; and
WHEREAS, the heart of the plans is to address watershed restoration at a landscape scale by empowering local communities to engage in integrated projects to improve ecosystem health in New Mexico’s forests and riparian areas by addressing issues such as water supply, water quality, interstate compact and treaty water delivery obligations, reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire, protection of wildlife habitat, public access to natural resource recreation areas, protection of drinking water supplies and increasing the economic health and well-being of both rural and urban communities through biomass-based and other emerging economic development opportunities; and
WHEREAS, in 2004, congress enacted Public Law 108-317, which authorized up to fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) per year to establish and fund forest and watershed restoration institutes in three states; and
WHEREAS, the forest and watershed restoration institute at New Mexico highlands university was created with state-supported matching funds for the purposes of providing the best available science for use by land managers and promoting community collaboration in support of landscape-scale restoration projects in coordination with New Mexico's universities; and
WHEREAS, the energy, minerals and natural resources department, the New Mexico department of agriculture and the forest and watershed restoration institute are committed to implementation and integration of the plans in ways that will promote a collaborative conservation ethic, accountability for the use of public funds, leveraging of federal funds and the application of the best available science and technology to inform projects; and
WHEREAS, these agencies agree that New Mexico must fully engage the state's resources to address these issues; and
WHEREAS, restoring New Mexico's watersheds to a healthy state will require a long-term commitment of time and resources, and this work reflects a new priority to fully coordinate all related efforts in the state without regard to jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the recommendations from the forest and watershed health plan, the non-native phreatophyte plan and the forest and watershed restoration institute's work plan call for increased and better coordination with state, federal, local and tribal programs to leverage existing financial and other resources more effectively; to identify new resources; and to facilitate public awareness of the risks unhealthy watersheds pose to New Mexico's cultures and traditions, to the environment, to the state's economic health and to the quality of life for New Mexico's residents; and
WHEREAS, the energy, minerals and natural resources department, the New Mexico department of agriculture and the forest and watershed restoration institute have convened an initial work group of representative stakeholders for the purpose of developing a set of recommendations to address the issues stated above;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that in order to achieve success in the implementation of the forest and watershed health plan and the non-native phreatophyte/watershed management plan, each adopted in 2005, the energy, minerals and natural resources department and the New Mexico department of agriculture, in cooperation with the soil and water conservation commission, be requested to continue to collaborate with the forest and watershed restoration institute and to continue to engage the work group and additional stakeholders for the purpose of developing a set of recommendations to address long-term funding and coordination among state, federal, local, private, tribal entities and state resources; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the agencies report their recommendations to the appropriate interim committee by July 1, 2006; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources, the director of the New Mexico department of agriculture, the chair of the soil and water conservation commission and the director of the forest watershed restoration institute at New Mexico highlands university.
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