HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 9

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

INTRODUCED BY

Tomás E. Salazar

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION, UPON SECURING FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF UPDATING THE STATE'S REGIONAL WATER PLANS, CONSIDER THE MORA-SAN MIGUEL-GUADALUPE REGIONAL PLAN A PRIORITY IN ITS CYCLE OF FUNDING.

     WHEREAS, climate change and drought are having a significant negative impact on available water resources, potentially compromising the health and safety of the residents of the upper Pecos river basin; and

     WHEREAS, local, state and federal laws, policies and ordinances are inadequate for the purpose of proactive water resource management under existing environmental conditions; and

     WHEREAS, environmental emergencies such as wildfires and dry wells have become more common and are a threat to the safety and well-being of the residents of the upper Pecos river basin; and

     WHEREAS, sustainable economic development is contingent on sustainable water resource management; and

     WHEREAS, the principal stakeholders in the upper Pecos river basin include:

          A. the city of Las Vegas;

          B. the city of Santa Rosa;

          C. El Valle water alliance;

          D. the Gallinas watershed initiative;

          E. Guadalupe county;

          F. the Guadalupe county mutual domestic water consumers association;

          G. Mora county;

          H. the Mora county mutual domestic water consumers association;

          I. the Rio Gallinas acequia association;

          J. San Miguel county;

          K. the San Miguel county mutual domestic water consumers association;

          L. the Sangre de Cristo regional water association;

          M. the Storrie lake water users association;

          N. upper Pecos river basin acequias;

          O. the upper Pecos watershed association;

          P. upper Pecos river basin users of domestic wells pursuant to Section 72-12-1 NMSA 1978; and

          Q. the village of Pecos; and

     WHEREAS, the principal stakeholders of the upper Pecos river basin have identified the goals of updating the Mora-San Miguel-Guadalupe regional water plan as being to:

          A. work together on regionally beneficial water management solutions;

          B. work as a region to prioritize projects to leverage state, local and federal funding sources;

          C. proactively manage water resources, including surface water and ground water;

          D. become drought resistant by developing a drought plan or strategies for addressing water shortages associated with drought conditions;

          E. become self-sufficient and create financial sustainability;

          F. proactively manage water infrastructure and assets by developing an asset management plan for source water and storage and distribution;

          G. protect and efficiently manage water rights and surface water and ground water so that they last one hundred years or more;

          H. develop and implement land-use policies and ordinances that promote responsible land development based on water availability in order to protect surface water and ground water sources throughout the basin;

          I. identify and develop new ground water and surface water supply sources, including treated brackish water, to supplement the existing dwindling water sources in the region; and

          J. develop a team of water- and wastewater-certified operators to provide service throughout the upper Pecos river basin in order to maintain efficient operating water and wastewater systems that promote long-term protection of the regional aquifer and safe drinking water for future generations; and

     WHEREAS, the development of water-sharing agreements would enable equitable sharing of water among water rights holders; and

     WHEREAS, the cost of replacing aging and antiquated infrastructure greatly exceeds local financial capacity; and

     WHEREAS, upon securing funding to update the Mora-San Miguel-Guadalupe regional water plan, a percentage of the funding should be prioritized to identify and secure new surface water and ground water supply sources, including treated brackish water, to supplement the existing dwindling water sources in the region; and

     WHEREAS, the principal stakeholders in the upper Pecos river basin support the interstate stream commission's goal of securing funding to update the state's regional water plans;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the interstate stream commission be requested to make it a priority to update the Mora-San Miguel-Guadalupe regional water plan when it receives financial resources to complete updates of regional water plans; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the interstate stream commission and the state engineer.

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