HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 3

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE WATER CABINET DEPARTMENTS TO CONDUCT AN ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW ASSESSMENT TO ENHANCE ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION, FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT AND IMPROVED MANAGEMENT OF RESERVOIRS, WITH THE COLLABORATION OF RELEVANT SCIENTISTS AND STAKEHOLDERS, FEDERAL AGENCIES AND WATER USERS.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's rivers are a keystone of the state's environmental infrastructure; and

     WHEREAS, the flow of water in New Mexico's rivers is directly tied to economic prosperity, water supply, agricultural production, cultural diversity, community viability and the health of people and ecosystems; and

     WHEREAS, seasonal high-flow events reduce frequency of bosque fires by sweeping combustible debris from river floodplains and continually wetted channels provide flood mitigation by storing and attentuating high flows; and

     WHEREAS, natural infiltration from river flows recharges aquifers, thereby enhancing water security during drought cycles; and

     WHEREAS, the advance of invasive aquatic and riparian species and the decline of native species, due in part to altered hydrology, have come to characterize New Mexico's river basins; and

     WHEREAS, further indicators of declining ecosystem health are manifest in each of the state's river systems, in the form of federally listed threatened and endangered species, whose conservation and recovery require costly, long-term programs; and

     WHEREAS, state management actions to maintain or enhance the hydrography of the state's river systems to prevent future environmental losses or listings of native species will keep control of these issues in state agencies; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico lacks any system for environmental flow considerations in its water management practices; and

     WHEREAS, predicted changes in climate coupled with continuing increases in human needs for water can only magnify the stress on the healthy functioning of river systems and may potentially result in future water supply shortages, interregional and interstate conflicts and serious economic and ecological distress;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the policy of the state of New Mexico be to bring the maintenance of adequate environmental flows into the water management practices on its river systems; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in furtherance of this policy, the legislature request all the state departments represented in the water cabinet to work cooperatively in preparation of an environmental flow assessment to evaluate and prioritize areas in need of improved flow management, identifying stream segments where flow management might result in significant ecological benefits, including preservation of fish and wildlife habitat and environmental quality and areas where benefits can be realized through improved reservoir management; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the evaluation shall identify suitable alternative methods for determining environmental flow needs in New Mexico and be conducted in collaboration with relevant specialists, federal agencies and water users; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to all cabinet secretaries whose departments are represented on the water cabinet and to the interstate stream commission.

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