SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 36

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

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Lopez and Ernest H. Chavez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE ALBUQUERQUE METROPOLITAN ARROYO FLOOD CONTROL AUTHORITY AND PROCLAIMING MARCH 5, 2013 TO BE "AMAFCA DAY" AT THE LEGISLATURE.

     WHEREAS, Albuquerque was founded in 1706 as the Spanish colonial outpost of Ranchos de Albuquerque; and

     WHEREAS, Albuquerque's increasing urbanization and floods in the early 1940s prompted studies of the situation to be undertaken by the United States army corps of engineers; and

     WHEREAS, House Bill 291 of the twenty-sixth legislature became Laws 1963, Chapter 311, thereby creating the Albuquerque metropolitan arroyo flood control authority, or "AMAFCA", and providing for its organization, governing body and officers; and

     WHEREAS, Governor Jack Campbell appointed the first board of directors of AMAFCA consisting of Reginald Garcia, Marvin May, Frances McCoy, B.H. Swinburne and W.C. Scrivner, who were sworn in on April 29, 1963; and

     WHEREAS, since 1999, AMAFCA has been governed by a board of directors elected from five districts, two of which are minority-majority districts based on current census data; and

     WHEREAS, AMAFCA became the local sponsor for the federal flood control projects known as the north diversion channel and the south diversion channel, which were constructed by the United States army corps of engineers to capture and divert runoff around downtown Albuquerque and portions of the north and south valleys; and

     WHEREAS, AMAFCA's mission is to acquire, equip, maintain and operate a flood control system for the benefit of the residents within AMAFCA's jurisdictional boundaries; and

     WHEREAS, AMAFCA has designed and constructed innovative projects with a full and complete understanding of the environmental, social and economic impacts, with a priority to return tax dollars to the taxpayers by providing the greatest benefit to all residents of Albuquerque; and

     WHEREAS, AMAFCA maintains thirty-seven miles of lined

channels, twenty-nine miles of improved channels, ten miles of underground drainage improvements and twenty dams that are subject to the jurisdiction of the office of the state engineer, as well as forty-four nonjurisdictional ponds; and

     WHEREAS, AMAFCA's jurisdiction today covers three hundred fifty-three square miles and protects six hundred thirty-seven thousand four hundred forty-three people; and

     WHEREAS, the flood control system is a hidden treasure that allows for many other compatible uses, including regional parks, golf courses, little league fields, soccer fields, equestrian centers, multi-use trails, open space and a hang glider landing area; and

     WHEREAS, AMAFCA cooperates with the Albuquerque international balloon fiesta, the largest hot-air balloon event in the world, to utilize AMAFCA facilities for take-offs and landings; and

     WHEREAS, AMAFCA maintains one hundred eight facilities dedicated to improving storm water quality; and

     WHEREAS, AMAFCA is a leader in arid southwest water quality, and since 1986 it has helped fund the hydraulics laboratory at the university of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, AMAFCA has traditionally constructed a nationally recognized tumbleweed snowman each year along interstate 40 that is seen by hundreds of thousands of people and is loved by people near and far;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it recognize the extraordinary history of accomplishments and contributions to the quality of life of New Mexico by the Albuquerque metropolitan arroyo flood control authority over the last fifty years; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that March 5, 2013 be recognized as "AMAFCA Day" at the legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of the board of directors of the Albuquerque metropolitan arroyo flood control authority.

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