SENATE MEMORIAL 45

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

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER, THE INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION AND REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS TO STUDY OPTIONS FOR ADDRESSING WATER SUPPLY ISSUES IN NORTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is located in the great American southwestern desert; and

     WHEREAS, the effects of climate change, unpredictable weather patterns and water shortages threaten the economy and overall well-being and safety of New Mexico farmers, ranchers, city residents and rural residents alike; and

     WHEREAS, as of January 2015, drought conditions were considered extremely dry, with January statewide precipitation well below normal to nonexistent; and

     WHEREAS, January 2014 was considered the driest January on record since 1895, and while the subsequent months showed some improvement, average precipitation was only thirty-four percent of normal by April; and

     WHEREAS, May 2014 was considered the wettest month of the year, at eighty-nine percent of normal, with unusual amounts of precipitation in September, and at the close of 2014, precipitation ended up being ninety-five percent of normal for the calendar year; and

     WHEREAS, unpredictable weather patterns, such as those in 2014, further highlight the need to be able to store and transport water in particularly dry years; and

     WHEREAS, large regional projects that increase the ability to store and import water from other areas have proven to be an effective approach to addressing water shortage issues, helping communities around the state alleviate or mitigate some of their water shortage issues; and

     WHEREAS, large projects, such as the Ute water pipeline project in eastern New Mexico and the Navajo-Gallup water supply project, have been planned for years but have only recently begun construction to help store water and import it to areas of the state that desperately need it;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the office of the state engineer, the interstate stream commission and water stakeholders in northeastern New Mexico be requested to study and develop ways of addressing water shortage issues in northeastern New Mexico, including identifying potential water sources outside of the region and developing a pipeline to some other large-scale regional water project to bring water to the area; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the office of the state engineer, the interstate stream commission, the county commissioners of Guadalupe, San Miguel, Mora and Colfax counties and the cities of Raton, Las Vegas and Santa Rosa.

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