HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 33

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Stephanie Garcia Richard

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE CITY OF SANTA FE GIVE PRIORITY TO THE RELEASE OF SUFFICIENT RECLAIMED WATER TO DOWNSTREAM USERS IN THE VILLAGES OF LA CIENEGUILLA, LA CIENEGA AND LA BAJADA AND THE PUEBLO OF COCHITI TO SUSTAIN HISTORIC AGRICULTURAL TRADITIONS.

     WHEREAS, the city of Santa Fe has an ongoing process for allocating reclaimed water produced by the city's wastewater treatment plant; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature is aware of the many demands for the city's reclaimed water and the city's position that the reclaimed water is a resource that is controlled by the city; and

     WHEREAS, the city's decisions regarding water over the last several decades have had a significant impact on water resources in the lower Santa Fe river watershed; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature has encouraged the city of Santa Fe to recognize its unique capacity for participation in the protection and preservation of this vital water course; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature acknowledges and supports the efforts of the Santa Fe river traditional communities collaborative in the collaborative's attempt to address the many issues that affect the flow of the Santa Fe river; and

     WHEREAS, nonmember governmental agency representatives that attend Santa Fe river traditional communities collaborative meetings in advisory capacities and provide technical support and guidance include representatives from the United States forest service, the federal bureau of land management, the department of game and fish, the office of the state engineer, the city of Santa Fe, Santa Fe county and the Santa Fe-Pojoaque soil and water conservation district; and

     WHEREAS, the Santa Fe county board of county commissioners, through county resolution number 2011-101, and the legislature, through House Memorial 74 of the second session of the fiftieth legislature in 2012, have formally recognized the problems with the lack of water flow during the growing season to traditional farms and ranches in the lower Santa Fe river watershed; and

     WHEREAS, in times of drought, communities must work together to address water shortages in a manner that is beneficial to all parties;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the city of Santa Fe be requested to give priority to the release of sufficient reclaimed water during the growing season to the downstream users of the villages of La Cieneguilla, La Cienega and La Bajada and the Pueblo of Cochiti to sustain historic agricultural traditions; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the city of Santa Fe and Santa Fe county be encouraged to continue to work with the Santa Fe river traditional communities collaborative to address the problems associated with the lack of water flow in the lower Santa Fe watershed; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of the Santa Fe city council and the Santa Fe county board of county commissioners.

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