SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 71

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

John Pinto

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO FULLY FUND THE COSTS OF RENOVATION OF THE UPPER FRUITLAND IRRIGATION PROJECT.

     WHEREAS, the Upper Fruitland irrigation project was built in 1933 and subsequent years as part of the works project administration program and runs along the south side of the San Juan river close to the Nenahnezad area; and

     WHEREAS, the irrigable acreage of the Upper Fruitland irrigation project is three thousand six hundred seventy-five acres that was divided into small tracts for the tribal members living in the vicinity to make beneficial use of the land; and

     WHEREAS, approximately four hundred families were served by the project when it was completed; and

     WHEREAS, the bureau of Indian affairs of the department of the interior had been responsible for funding the operation and maintenance of the Upper Fruitland irrigation project until the responsibility for funding the operation and maintenance of the Upper Fruitland irrigation project was transferred to the Navajo Nation; and

     WHEREAS, approximately five hundred acres remain under cultivation by the original project, and between 1959 and the late 1990s, seepage from the main irrigation ditch was stemmed by lining it with concrete and later adding a siphon to prevent excessive evaporation, also major renovation of the head gate at the point of diversion from the San Juan river through federal and Navajo Nation appropriations; and

     WHEREAS, the Navajo Nation has not been able to keep up with the funding of the extensive maintenance needed on the Upper Fruitland irrigation secondary irrigation system, which is in need of capital improvement funds to continue delivering water to the fields of the Navajo families who still rely on the crops they grow to provide or supplement their family incomes; and

     WHEREAS, the Upper Fruitland irrigation project will be a beneficiary of the San Juan river court settlement once it is adopted by congress, at which time some additional money will be available for the maintenance and operation of the project when the settlement is eventually acted upon, but repairs are needed now;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico congressional delegation be requested to work with the Shiprock irrigation operations and maintenance office of the department of water resources in the division of natural resources of the Navajo Nation and obtain a congressional appropriation for one million dollars ($1,000,000) to upgrade and repair the secondary irrigation system of the Upper Fruitland irrigation project; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to all members of the New Mexico congressional delegation, to the president of the Navajo Nation, to the San Juan water users, incorporated, and to the Shiprock irrigation operations and management office of the department of water resources of the division of natural resources of the Navajo Nation.

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