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A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES

DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO

SUPPORT THE COMPLETION OF THE RIO GRANDE TRAIL.

WHEREAS, the Rio Grande, the second largest river system

in the country, flows nearly five hundred miles through the

heart of New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the Rio Grande is a precious lifeline that

connects nature, history, culture and communities across

millennia; and

WHEREAS, the 2004 statewide comprehensive outdoor

recreation plan identified trails as the number one recreation

priority for the public in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, across the United States, trails are important

components of recreation, tourism, economic development,

conservation, alternative transportation, education and health

and fitness strategies; and

WHEREAS, an extensive network of routes suitable for

trail use by the public already exists along large portions of

the Rio Grande valley; and

WHEREAS, the development of a Rio Grande trail along as

much of the river corridor as feasible and appropriate would

create significant public benefits for New Mexico by

connecting communities, promoting recreation and healthy

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lifestyles, stimulating tourism and economic development and

supporting river and bosque education and protection; and

WHEREAS, the development of the Rio Grande trail will

require a multiyear effort involving the cooperation and

commitment of diverse local, state, federal, tribal and

private entities; and

WHEREAS, route selection and planning for the Rio Grande

trail must respect all landowners, especially private

landowners and the sovereign governments of New Mexico's

tribes and pueblos; and

WHEREAS, the New Mexico legislature has appropriated

four million dollars ($4,000,000) for the first phases of

planning, design and construction of the Rio Grande trail;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the proposed Rio Grande trail be a

project of statewide and national significance that should be

completed as soon as possible for the benefit of present and

future generations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state parks division of

the energy, minerals and natural resources department be the

lead agency for the completion of the Rio Grande trail; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislature

endeavor to support completion of the Rio Grande trail by

providing, to the extent possible, regular, sustained funding

to the energy, minerals and natural resources department to

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facilitate planning, environmental compliance, route

designation, construction and maintenance; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state parks division of

the energy, minerals and natural resources department endeavor

to develop and stimulate private sector, nongovernmental

participation and support for the Rio Grande trail that

supplements public funds for the project; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of

transportation be requested to partner with the energy,

minerals and natural resources department in the project and

provide, to the maximum extent feasible, funding from the

federal transportation enhancement program to help complete

the Rio Grande trail; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico congressional

delegation be requested to endeavor to support completion of

the Rio Grande trail by encouraging the participation of

affected federal agencies in the project and by seeking

appropriate federal funding support from diverse sources; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural

resources, the secretary of transportation and the members of

the New Mexico congressional delegation.