HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 34

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION TO BEGIN PLANNING TO REALIZE THE FULL BENEFITS THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO RECEIVED IN THE ARIZONA WATER SETTLEMENTS ACT.

     WHEREAS, water is a vital resource of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the Gila and San Francisco rivers are currently not dammed in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the San Francisco and Gila rivers have ecological and economic value in their current free-flowing condition; and

     WHEREAS, the interstate stream commission is responsible by state law for water planning; and

     WHEREAS, the policy of the interstate stream commission recognizes the unique and valuable ecology of the Gila basin; and

     WHEREAS, it is the policy of the interstate stream commission to apply the best available science to fully assess and mitigate the ecological impacts on southwest New Mexico, the Gila river, its tributaries and associated riparian corridors; and

     WHEREAS, it is the policy of the interstate stream commission to consider the historic uses of and future demands for water in the basin and the traditions, cultures and customs affecting those uses; and

     WHEREAS, the Arizona Water Settlements Act provides New Mexico with one hundred forty thousand acre-feet of Gila basin water in any ten years; and

     WHEREAS, the Arizona Water Settlements Act provides New Mexico with up to one hundred twenty-eight million dollars ($128,000,000) to be expended in the southwest planning region to meet water supply demand; and

     WHEREAS, regional and local water planning have identified shortfalls of water for the southwest region of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the Arizona Water Settlements Act is a complex settlement; and

     WHEREAS, a planning process to realize the full benefits of the Arizona Water Settlements Act must include participation by all stakeholders in southwest New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the interstate stream commission be requested to employ a multi-stakeholder planning process to realize the full benefits of the Arizona Water Settlements Act; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the interstate stream commission planning process include consideration of the ecological and economic value of the Gila and San Francisco rivers in their present free-flowing condition as well as the demands for water in the basin and the traditions, cultures and customs affecting those uses; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the interstate stream commission annually report the progress of the planning process to the appropriate legislative committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the interstate stream commission.

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