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

SPONSOR Griego

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/28/07

HB

SHORT TITLE Acequia Day

SB SM 35

ANALYST Guambaña

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Memorial 35 requests the recognition of the acequias as cultural patrimony of the State of

New Mexico and would also declare February 15, 2007 as “Acequia Day" at the New Mexico

Legislature.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

PED maintains that acequias are community-based systems of irrigation and water governance.

Acequias also refer to the community of farmers that cooperatively maintain the ditches and

share water through custom and tradition. Acequias formed the basis for settlement of New

Mexico's Indo-Hispano communities between 200 and 400 years ago and continue to be vital to

the cultural and economic survival of the traditional communities of New Mexico. Acequias

continue today for water governance and enhance cohesion among members of the community.

AG/nt