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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Stewart

 

DATE TYPED:

02/03/03

 

HB

HJM 4

 

SHORT TITLE:

Impact of Surface Water Impoundments

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Chabot

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

 

$180.0

Non-Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC Files

 

Responses Received From

Office of the State Engineer (OSE)

New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department (NMSHTD)

Department of Agriculture

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Joint Memorial 4 requests OSE and NMSU to cooperate in determining the impact of unregulated surface water impoundments on perennial streams and aquifers by establishing a task force to study the impacts.  As a minimum, the task force will consist of a representative of the Acequia Association, Cattle Growers’ Association, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Farm Bureau, Livestock Bureau and the Northern New Mexico Stockman’s Association.  It resolves that a hydrologic study be conducted by NMSU at least in the Mora and Lincoln county watersheds, that impairment by impoundment in different hydrologic settings be determined, that data be collected for use in future determination and that administrative and enforcement guidelines be developed as a result of the study.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The State Engineer is currently revising their Rules and Regulations for Governing the Appropriation and Use of Surface Waters of the State of New Mexico.  These rules and regulations have been drafted and will be scheduled for public hearings.  Any study requested by this memorial needs to be considered by the task force.  They also estimate that 2 FTE’s will be required to perform the research and analysis required by the memorial.

 

NMSHTD is concerned that restrictions placed upon surface water impoundments that are used during road construction could require trucking water considerable distance increasing costs.  In addition, design changes may be required for drainage systems to handle increased discharge due to loss of the water impoundments.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

No appropriation is contained in this joint memorial.  However, there will be a significant cost incurred by undertaking the effort required by the memorial.  OSE estimates that $180.0 will be required for staff expenses to complete the tasks requested by this memorial.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

OSE recommends delaying any actions related to this memorial until the new rules and regulations are promulgated.

 

GAC/sb:prr