0001|                           HOUSE MEMORIAL 7
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0002|     43RD LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 1998
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0003|                            INTRODUCED BY
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0004|                           MIGUEL P. GARCIA
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0005|     
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0006|                                   
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0007|     
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0008|     
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0009|     
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0010|                              A MEMORIAL
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0011|     ENCOURAGING THE CONTINUED PRESERVATION AND SUPERVISION OF THE
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0012|     ACEQUIAS, INCLUDING THE CONTRA-ACEQUIAS, THREATENED BY
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0013|     DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS OF THE SOUTH VALLEY OF BERNALILLO COUNTY.
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0014|     
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0015|          WHEREAS, water has been the lifeblood of native New
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0016|     Mexican Hispano communities for hundreds of years; and
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0017|          WHEREAS, centuries-old acequias continue to be viable
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0018|     modern conduits in the production of fruit and agricultural
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0019|     products in our New Mexico communities; and
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0020|          WHEREAS, acequias have been natural rechargers of our
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0021|     delicate underground aquifers; and
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0022|          WHEREAS, acequias are viable historic markers symbolizing
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0023|     tempered Native American and native New Mexican Hispano
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0024|     community values of cooperation, sharing and perseverance; and
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0025|          WHEREAS, in the Atrisco, Armijo and Ranchos de Atrisco
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0001|     areas and the larger south valley, the acequias are managed
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0002|     and maintained by the middle Rio Grande conservancy district;
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0003|     and
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0004|          WHEREAS, uncontrolled development and discouragement of
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0005|     traditional farming practices have led in some instances to
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0006|     the abandonment of many "contra-acequias", the connector
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0007|     ditches; and
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0008|          WHEREAS, the continuation of agricultural traditions
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0009|     centered around centuries-old acequias are stabilizing
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0010|     cultural and social elements in present-day Hispano
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0011|     communities; 
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0012|          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
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0013|     REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the middle Rio
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0014|     Grande conservancy district continue to be the primary
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0015|     responsible caretaker of the old acequias in the Atrisco,
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0016|     Armijo, Five Points and Ranchos de Atrisco areas of the south
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0017|     valley; and
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0018|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the middle Rio Grande
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0019|     conservancy district protect these acequias from encroachment
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0020|     and uncontrolled development by developing educational
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0021|     programs encouraging the use of the contra-acequias rather
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0022|     than their abandonment; and
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0023|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these educational programs be
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0024|     developed with and offered to educational institutions to
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0025|     produce curricula on the historic, cultural, social and
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0001|     economic significance of our centuries-old acequias; and
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0002|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the middle Rio Grande
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0003|     conservancy district work with taxpayers in the south valley
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0004|     to study and improve the aquifer recharging process; and
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0005|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the middle Rio Grande
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0006|     conservancy district and the county of Bernalillo establish
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0007|     joint powers agreements to identify publicly by use of
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0008|     colorful signs the acequias of Atrisco, Arenal, Guadalupe,
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0009|     Armijo and Los Ranchos de Atrisco; and
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0010|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these acequia identification
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0011|     signs be placed along the main thoroughfares of Atrisco,
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0012|     Arenal, Sunset Gardens, Foothill, Gatewood, Sunset, Gonzales,
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0013|     Five Points, San Ignacio, Tapia, Blake and Barcelona roads and
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0014|     Bridge and Isleta boulevards in the south valley of Bernalillo
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0015|     county; and
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0016|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the middle Rio Grande
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0017|     conservancy district report progress on this project to the
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0018|     first session of the forty-fourth legislature; and
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0019|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
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0020|     transmitted to the middle Rio Grande conservancy district and
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0021|     the board of county commissioners of Bernalillo county.
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0022|                              
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