HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 6

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Andy Nunez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

DECLARING THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 5 THROUGH FEBRUARY 11, 2015 TO BE "NEW MEXICO WATER AWARENESS WEEK" AT THE LEGISLATURE AND REQUESTING ACTIONS BY STATE AGENCIES IN FORMULATING WATER POLICY.

     WHEREAS, more than three hundred people from thirty-one New Mexico counties, including business leaders, environmental advocates, researchers, farmers and ranchers, tribal leaders, government officials and students, took part in a two-day town hall on water policy in April 2014 organized by New Mexico first; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans called on the state of New Mexico to strengthen the regional and state water planning process, ensure that water supply systems are resilient and advance effective water rights management, including the use of voluntary shortage-sharing agreements; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans further called for protection of water supplies by preventing catastrophic forest fires through comprehensive watershed-scale restoration projects, including forest thinning, as well as the reduction of stakeholder conflicts regarding habitat; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans called for exploration of new water sources, including the capture and use of storm water, assessment of brackish water sources and advancement of reuse of produced water by oil and gas development; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans called on the state of New Mexico to improve coordination among funding sources for vetted water projects; and

     WHEREAS, many of these priorities were also voiced by New Mexicans attending 2013 and 2014 water policy events hosted by the university of New Mexico Utton transboundary resources center and Sandia national laboratories;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the week of February 5 through February 11, 2015 be declared "New Mexico Water Awareness Week" at the legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the interstate stream commission, in partnership with relevant nonprofit organizations, be requested to consider the development of a future forum or policy brief comparing the water planning process in New Mexico with other states, enabling lawmakers and community members to learn from best practices in other locations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of the state engineer and the interstate stream commission, in partnership with relevant state, city, county, tribal and private entities, be requested to research and document best practices for water shortage-sharing agreements, including their role in the active water resource management program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of environment, in partnership with relevant state, tribal and federal entities, be requested to research the development of a uniform application for water funding to align information gathering for multiple sources; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that legal and scientific research into aquifer storage and recovery of storm water in New Mexico is needed and should be pursued by state or private entities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that research and deliberation on habitat preservation strategies that address environmental and private sector needs is warranted and should be pursued by state or private entities; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, members of the legislature, the director of the university of New Mexico Utton transboundary resources center and the director of New Mexico first.

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