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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Feldman
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
2-19-07
HB
SHORT TITLE Endangered Species Collaborative
SB 1077
ANALYST Woods
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY07
FY08
NFI
2,000.0
Non-recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates HB755
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Department of Game and Fish (DGF)
Office of the State Engineer (OSE)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 1077 seeks to appropriate
$2,000,000 from the general fund to the Interstate Stream
Commission for expenditure in fiscal year 2008 to support the endangered species collaborative. Any
unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall revert to the general
fund.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
DGF notes that this appropriation will go toward meeting the State’s obligation as a participant
in the Rio Grande Collaborative Program. In collaboration with numerous federal agency’s and
other stakeholder, various State agencies (including Interstate Stream Commission, Department
of Game and Fish, Attorney General’s Office, Environment Department, and Department of
Agriculture) have agreed to participate in the program to protect and improve the status of listed
species in the Middle Rio Grande while simultaneously protecting existing and future water uses
and to contribute to recovery of those species, all the while complying with state and federal law,
including compact delivery obligations. As part of the agreement, the state is obligated to
provide 25 percent of the funding which will then be leveraged with 75 percent federal funds.
pg_0002
Senate Bill 1077 – Page
2
The estimated cost of the program is $30,000,000 over the next 10 years.
OSE indicates that the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Act Collaborative Program was
established in 2001 for the purpose of protecting and improving the status of endangered species
in the Middle Rio Grande while simultaneously protecting existing and future water uses from
potential court-mandated takings. The Program’s primary goal is to achieve long-term solutions
to Middle Rio Grande endangered species issues while complying with state and federal law
including New Mexico’s Rio Grande Compact delivery obligations. The Program serves as the
basis for compliance with Sections 7 and 9 of the ESA for all middle valley water users. The
program is a consortium of federal, state, local, tribal and non-governmental parties working in a
collaborative manner that has been successful in securing over $50 million from Congress since
2001.
WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL
OSE suggests that the $2,000,000 would not be available for use in fiscal year 2008 for New
Mexico’s share of projects designed to increase the viability of endangered species within the
Middle Rio Grande. Middle valley water users may face liability under Sections 7 and 9 of the
Endangered Species Act and potential court-mandated takings of water.
DGF adds that the state will be unable to meet its financial obligations under the Collaborative
Program agreement, and federal funds will not be leveraged. As a result, the Collaborative
Program may fail and conflicts between water use and availability and the endangered species
requirements may escalate.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
DGF states that, the funds, “…will help the State meet its obligations under the agreement that
established the Collaborative Program."
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
Duplicates HB755
WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL
The State will be unable to meet its financial obligations under the Collaborative Program
agreement, and federal funds will not be leveraged. As a result, the Collaborative Program may
fail and conflicts between water use and availability and the endangered species requirements
may escalate.
AMENDMENTS
OSE proposes that the text of the bill should be amended to accurately reflect the precise name
of the collaborative program:
On page 1, line 18, strike “endangered species collaborative" and insert in lieu thereof
“middle rio grande endangered species act collaborative program".
BFW/mt