SENATE MEMORIAL 80

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

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Lopez

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE COUNTIES OF BERNALILLO, SANDOVAL AND VALENCIA AND THE MUNICIPALITIES OF ALBUQUERQUE, BELEN, BERNALILLO, LOS LUNAS AND RIO RANCHO TO CONSIDER A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON NEW DEVELOPMENT DUE TO POTENTIAL WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGES.

     WHEREAS, most available data indicate that the state continues to experience a drought of historic proportions; and

     WHEREAS, the depletion of ground water resources since the 1950s presents a worsening long-term challenge and diminishes the overall resiliency of the water supply; and

     WHEREAS, the extent of damage to ground water resources resulting from fuel spills at the Kirtland air force base and the prospects for successful remediation are unknown; and

     WHEREAS, the Bernalillo county planning commission has given its approval to the proposed Santolina master plan that, if approved and implemented, will require an estimated fourteen thousand acre-feet of water to serve ninety thousand additional persons in the county; and

     WHEREAS, additional development within a community will likely result in an increased demand for water; and

     WHEREAS, Bernalillo county, Sandoval county and Valencia county, and the municipalities within those counties, may experience water shortages due to drought, depletion and contamination of ground water resources, which shortages would be exacerbated with the additional demand for water resulting from new development; and

     WHEREAS, such water shortages may threaten the economy and the public health, safety and welfare of the residents of Bernalillo county, Sandoval county and Valencia county; and

     WHEREAS, such water shortages may be beyond the capacity of individual water authorities or local governments to address;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Bernalillo county, Sandoval county and Valencia county, and the municipalities of Albuquerque, Belen, Bernalillo, Los Lunas and Rio Rancho, consider imposing a temporary moratorium on the approval of new development with more than five hundred dwelling units pending confirmation that there will be a sufficient supply of water to serve the needs of such new development; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Bernalillo county, Sandoval county and Valencia county, and the municipalities of Albuquerque, Belen, Bernalillo, Los Lunas and Rio Rancho, provide for a comprehensive study of the water supply in their jurisdictions, including the prospect for an adequate supply of water to serve the needs of anticipated major new large-scale development and of the impact of proposed major new large-scale development on the health of the regional population; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the boards of county commissioners and county managers of Bernalillo county, Sandoval county and Valencia county; to the mayors and city councils of Albuquerque, Belen, Bernalillo, Los Lunas and Rio Rancho; to the governors and councils of the Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of Sandia, Pueblo of Santa Ana and Pueblo of Zia; and to the president of the To'hajiilee Chapter of the Navajo Nation.

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