SENATE MEMORIAL 42

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Stuart Ingle

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE STATE PARKS DIVISION OF THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF THE BLACKWATER DRAW ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE.

     WHEREAS, the Blackwater Draw site near Portales in Roosevelt county is internationally renowned and is one of the most well-known and significant sites in North American archaeology; and

     WHEREAS, the Blackwater Draw site's importance was first recognized in 1929 by Ridgely Whiteman of Clovis, New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, early investigations at the Blackwater Draw site recovered some of the first evidence of a human occupation in association with late pleistocene fauna, including the Columbian mammoth, the camel, the horse, the bison, the saber-toothed cat and the dire wolf; and

     WHEREAS, since its discovery, the Blackwater Draw site has been a focal point for scientific investigations by academic institutions and organizations from across the nation. The Carnegie institute, Smithsonian institution, academy of natural sciences, national science foundation, United States national museum, national geographic society and more than a dozen major universities either have funded or participated in research at the Blackwater Draw site; and

     WHEREAS, the Blackwater Draw site was designated a national historic landmark by the United States department of the interior in 1961; and

     WHEREAS, the Blackwater Draw site was proposed as a New Mexico state park in the 1950s, but a state park was not established due to opposition from the gravel mining industry that controlled the site at that time; and

     WHEREAS, the Blackwater Draw site is owned and managed by eastern New Mexico university; and

     WHEREAS, the Blackwater Draw site is located just one mile from Oasis state park; and

     WHEREAS, in 2005, the legislature of the state of New Mexico authorized the expenditure of funds by the state parks division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department for a project to improve facilities and the educational program at the Blackwater Draw site in conjunction with eastern New Mexico university; and

     WHEREAS, in 2007, the state parks division completed a very successful project in conjunction with eastern New Mexico university; and

     WHEREAS, further improvement of visitor facilities and programs at the Blackwater Draw site would increase its value as a tourism destination and educational location and would create benefits for the region and New Mexico generally; and

     WHEREAS, there are significant opportunities to expand the collaboration and partnership between eastern New Mexico university and the state parks division at the Blackwater Draw site, and eastern New Mexico university desires to pursue such an expanded and long-term partnership; and

     WHEREAS, collaboration between eastern New Mexico university and the state parks division at the Blackwater Draw site may offer opportunities to utilize state resources more efficiently while improving the management of the site;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state parks division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department be requested to study the feasibility of a long-term partnership with eastern New Mexico university at the Blackwater Draw site, and that the study also analyze the designation of the site as a state park as an alternative to a long-term partnership; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state parks division report its findings to the appropriate interim committee of the legislature by December 1, 2008; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources and to the director of the state parks division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department.

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