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.168885.1

HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 73

48

TH

LEGISLATURE

- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -

FIRST SESSION

, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Andy Nuņez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER TO CONDUCT A ONE-

YEAR STUDY OF THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE HYDROLOGIC

DESIGN OF FLOOD CONTROL FACILITIES.

WHEREAS, New Mexico state agencies, including the office

of the state engineer, have conducted reviews of the reality

and possible effects of global warming and of associated

climate change, and these agencies have concluded that both are

occurring and will have negative impacts on our state; and

WHEREAS, a conference of the world's experts in the field

concluded in a February 2007 report that climate change is

happening, that the actions of humans are, in part, responsible

and that many of the associated adverse impacts cannot be

reversed; and

WHEREAS, in the past, criteria for the hydrologic design

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.168885.1

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of storm structures have been based on the historic record of

hydrologic events; and

WHEREAS, climate change may render inadequate our reliance

on the historic record of these hydrologic events as criteria

in the hydrologic design of reconstructed and future flood

control facilities; and

WHEREAS, one of the associated effects of climate change

that has already been observed is an increase in the number and

magnitude of precipitation events of long duration and great

intensity; and

WHEREAS, these precipitation events have led to flooding

that has threatened flood control structures, including dams

and levees, and caused injury and damage to people, animals,

farms, homes and businesses in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, there is no single state agency responsible for

the collection, analysis and real-time dissemination of

information on major precipitation events; and

WHEREAS, the real-time tracking of major storm events and

the dissemination of warnings to local communities is

technologically possible; and

WHEREAS, while some states enjoy the availability of real-

time precipitation data, collected by a large network of

volunteers located along major storm tracks, New Mexico does

not; and

WHEREAS, there is no licensing procedure and no experience

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.168885.1

requirement, nor is there any test required, for those who

profess to be experts in the design of hydrologic facilities;

and

WHEREAS, the office of the state engineer is responsible

for the safe design and operation of dams, but New Mexico does

not have a state agency that is responsible for developing

hydrologic criteria and methodologies for the safe design and

operation of other storm facilities; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico does not have a state hydrologist, nor

does it have a committee of engineers and geologists to advise

the office of the state engineer on hydrologic design criteria

and methodologies, and the office of the state engineer would

be a logical location for these entities;

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

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the office of the state engineer be

requested to conduct a study of this matter and report its

findings and recommendations to the next session of the

legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be

transmitted to the office of the state engineer.

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