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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE STATE PARKS DIVISION OF THE ENERGY, MINERALS

AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY

STUDY OF THE BLACKWATER DRAW ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE.

WHEREAS, the Blackwater Draw site near Portales in

Roosevelt county is internationally renowned and is one of

the most well-known and significant sites in North American

archaeology; and

WHEREAS, the Blackwater Draw site's importance was first

recognized in 1929 by Ridgely Whiteman of Clovis, New Mexico;

and

WHEREAS, early investigations at the Blackwater Draw

site recovered some of the first evidence of a human

occupation in association with late pleistocene fauna,

including the Columbian mammoth, the camel, the horse, the

bison, the saber-toothed cat and the dire wolf; and

WHEREAS, since its discovery, the Blackwater Draw site

has been a focal point for scientific investigations by

academic institutions and organizations from across the

nation. The Carnegie institute, Smithsonian institution,

academy of natural sciences, national science foundation,

United States national museum, national geographic society

and more than a dozen major universities either have funded

or participated in research at the Blackwater Draw site; and

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WHEREAS, the Blackwater Draw site was designated a

national historic landmark by the United States department of

the interior in 1961; and

WHEREAS, the Blackwater Draw site was proposed as a New

Mexico state park in the 1950s, but a state park was not

established due to opposition from the gravel mining industry

that controlled the site at that time; and

WHEREAS, the Blackwater Draw site is owned and managed

by eastern New Mexico university; and

WHEREAS, the Blackwater Draw site is located just one

mile from Oasis state park; and

WHEREAS, in 2005, the legislature of the state of New

Mexico authorized the expenditure of funds by the state parks

division of the energy, minerals and natural resources

department for a project to improve facilities and the

educational program at the Blackwater Draw site in

conjunction with eastern New Mexico university; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, the state parks division completed a

very successful project in conjunction with eastern New

Mexico university; and

WHEREAS, further improvement of visitor facilities and

programs at the Blackwater Draw site would increase its value

as a tourism destination and educational location and would

create benefits for the region and New Mexico generally; and

WHEREAS, there are significant opportunities to expand

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the collaboration and partnership between eastern New Mexico

university and the state parks division at the Blackwater

Draw site, and eastern New Mexico university desires to

pursue such an expanded and long-term partnership; and

WHEREAS, collaboration between eastern New Mexico

university and the state parks division at the Blackwater

Draw site may offer opportunities to utilize state resources

more efficiently while improving the management of the site;

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

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state parks division of the

energy, minerals and natural resources department be

requested to study the feasibility of a long-term partnership

with eastern New Mexico university at the Blackwater Draw

site, and that the study also analyze the designation of the

site as a state park as an alternative to a long-term

partnership; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state parks division

report its findings to the appropriate interim committee of

the legislature by December 1, 2008; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural

resources and to the director of the state parks division of

the energy, minerals and natural resources department.