HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 17

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Ben Lujan

A JOINT MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE ACEQUIA COMMISSION AND ITS WORK ON BEHALF OF ACEQUIA COMMUNITIES.

     WHEREAS, acequia organizations and communities are recognized for their embodiment of indigenous agricultural knowledge, sustainable water management and enhanced biodiversity creation; and

     WHEREAS, acequia hydrology technology is the most efficient and equitable model for the use of scarce natural water resources in semi-arid natural environments; and

     WHEREAS, acequia communities reflect the centuries-old heritage values of Indo-Hispano cultural patrimony based on the ideals of cooperation, sharing, mutual respect and natural resource stewardship; and

     WHEREAS, the acequia commission was created by executive order in 1988 to advise the governor, the interstate stream commission, the United States army corps of engineers and other state natural resource management agencies on what criteria should be used to determine priorities for rehabilitating acequias under new federal funding programs; and

     WHEREAS, the acequia commission was established by statute by the 1993 legislature as an eleven-member commission, with members serving four-year terms; and

     WHEREAS, the acequia commission is charged with the duties of serving as advocate and facilitator for communication between local acequia organizations and the state and federal governments, reviewing plans or legislation that affect acequias and presenting its findings to the governor and the interstate stream commission; and

     WHEREAS, acequia commission members are invested in and capable of representing the acequia systems and communicating the problematic issues and needs of acequia organizations;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the acequia commission be recognized for its vital contribution to the welfare and continuity of New Mexico's acequia communities and families and its assistance through the years for representing the interests of acequia systems before the office of the state engineer, the governors of New Mexico, the legislature and assorted federal and state agencies; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, members of the New Mexico state legislature, the chair of interstate stream commission, the office of the state engineer and the United States army corps of engineers.

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