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

SPONSOR Garcia, M.P.

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

01/22/08

HJM 17

SHORT TITLE Develop Official Acequia Registry

SB

ANALYST Escudero

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

This House Joint Memorial 17 requests the Acequia Commission to develop an Official Registry

of Acequias in New Mexico.

•

Acequias and community ditches are intertwined with the cultural fabric of New Mexico

and are the foundation of the land-based culture of both acequia communities and

pueblos.

•

Those two indigenous ways of life are a vital part of the common heritage of the people

of New Mexico.

•

Acequias and community ditches are a living repository of the colorful and grand history

and culture of this great state.

•

There is no complete official registry of acequias and community ditches in New Mexico;

•

Therefore, be it resolved by the Legislature of the State Of New Mexico that the acequia

commission be requested to develop an official registry of acequias and community

ditches in the State of New Mexico to preserve the historical, cultural and legal record of

acequias and community ditches.

•

Be it further resolved, that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the Acequia

Commission.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

No specific appropriations were attached to this legislation However; costs incurred by the

House Joint Memorial 17 – Page

2

commission to develop the registry are indeterminate and are presumed to be on-going.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

House Joint Memorial 17 intends to continue the preservation of our great state by preserving the

historical, cultural and legal record of acequias and community ditches.

Per the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division and the data compiled by the Department of

Cultural Affairs, we know cultural activities in New Mexico have a 2.5-billion impact on the

states economy, employ more than 32,000 people and provide $500 million in income each year.

Cultural tourism generated more than $600 million in 2003 and comprised New Mexico’s largest

employer. Historic preservation’s contribution to making this possible is immeasurable,

beginning from the early days of preserving this fabric of our state’s heritage. Identifying,

evaluating and nominating resources is an ongoing partnership among the private sector and

local, state and federal governments.

PME/bb