[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 141 (Monday, October 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    RIO PUERCO WATERSHED ACT OF 1994

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1919) to improve water quality within the Rio Puerco 
watershed and to help restore the ecological health of the Bio Grande 
though the cooperative identification and implementation of best 
management practices which are consistent with the ecological, 
geological, cultural, sociological, and economic conditions in the 
region, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1919

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Rio Puerco Watershed Act of 
     1994''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds that--
       (1) over time, extensive ecological changes have occurred 
     in the watershed of the Rio Puerco River, in New Mexico, 
     including--
       (A) erosion of agricultural and range lands;
       (B) impairment of waters due to heavy sedimentation;
       (C) reduced productivity of renewable resources;
       (D) loss of biological diversity;
       (E) loss of functioning riparian areas; and
       (F) loss of available surface water;
       (2) damage to the Rio Puerco watershed has seriously 
     affected the economic and cultural well-being of its 
     inhabitants, including--
       (A) loss of existing communities that were based on the 
     land and were self-sustaining, and
       (B) adverse effects on the traditions, customs, and 
     cultures of the affected communities;
       (3) a healthy and sustainable ecosystem in the Rio Puerco 
     watershed is essential to the long-term economic and cultural 
     viability of the region;
       (4) the impairment of the Rio Puerco watershed has damaged 
     the ecological and economic well-being  of the area below the 
     junction of the Rio Puerco with the Rio Grande including--
       (A) disruption of ecological processes;
       (B) water quality impairment;
       (C) significant reduction in the water storage capacity and 
     life expectancy of the Elephant Butte Dam and Reservoir 
     system due to sedimentation;
       (D) chronic problems of irrigation system channel 
     maintenance; and
       (E) increased risk of flooding caused by sediment 
     accumulation;
       (5) the Rio Puerco is a major tributary of the Rio Grande 
     and the coordinated implementation of ecosystem-based best 
     management practices for the Rio Puerco system could benefit 
     the larger Rio Grande system;
       (6) the Rio Puerco watershed has been stressed from the 
     loss of native vegetation, introduction of exotic species, 
     and alteration of riparian habitat which have disrupted the 
     original dynamics of the river and disrupted natural 
     ecological processes;
       (7) the Rio Puerco watershed is a mosaic of private, 
     Federal, tribal trust, and State land ownership with diverse, 
     sometimes differing management objectives;
       (8) development, implementation, and monitoring of an 
     effective watershed management program for the Rio Puerco 
     watershed is best achieved through cooperation among affected 
     Federal, State, local, and tribal entities;
       (9) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the 
     Director of the Bureau of Land Management, in consultation 
     with the entities listed in paragraph (8), and in cooperation 
     with the Rio Puerco Watershed Committee, is best suited to 
     coordinate management efforts in the Rio Puerco watershed; 
     and
       (10) accelerating the pace of improvement in Rio Puerco 
     watershed on a coordinated, cooperative basis will benefit 
     persons living in the watershed as well as downstream users 
     on the Rio Grande.

     SEC. 3. MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting 
     through the Bureau of Land Management and in consultation 
     with the Rio Puerco Management Committee established pursuant 
     to section 4, shall--
       (1) establish a clearinghouse for research and information 
     on management within the area identified as the Rio Puerco 
     Drainage Basin as depicted on the map entitled ``The Rio 
     Puerco Watershed'' dated June 1994, as described in the 
     attached map, including--
       (A) current and historical natural resource conditions; and
       (B) data concerning the extent and causes of watershed 
     impairment;
       (2) establish an inventory of best management practices and 
     related monitoring activities that have been or may be 
     implemented within the area identified as the Rio Puerco 
     Watershed Project as depicted on the map entitled ``The Rio 
     Puerco Watershed'' dated June 1994; and
       (3) provide support to the Rio Puerco Management Committee 
     to identify objectives, monitor results of ongoing projects, 
     and develop alternative watershed management plans for the 
     Rio Puerco Drainage Basin, based on best management 
     practices.
       (b) Rio Puerco Management Report.--Not later than 2 years 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Rio Puerco Management Committee, shall 
     prepare a report of appropriate alternatives for the 
     improvement of watershed conditions in the Rio Puerco 
     Drainage Basin. The alternatives shall--
       (1) identify reasonable and appropriate goals and 
     objectives for landowners and managers in the Rio Puerco 
     watershed;
       (2) describe potential alternative actions to meet the 
     goals and objectives, including proven best management 
     practices and costs associated with implementing the actions;
       (3) recommend voluntary implementation of appropriate best 
     management practices on both public and private lands;
       (4) provide for cooperative development of management 
     guidelines for maintaining and improving the ecological, 
     cultural, and economic conditions on both public and private 
     lands;
       (5) provide for the development of public participation and 
     community outreach programs that would include proposals 
     for--
       (A) cooperative efforts with private landowners to 
     encourage implementation of best management practices within 
     the watershed; and
       (B) involving private citizens in restoring the watershed;
       (6) provide for the development of proposals for voluntary 
     cooperative programs among the Rio Puerco Management 
     Committee membership to implement best management practices 
     in a coordinated, consistent, and cost-effective manner;
       (7) provide for the encouragement and support 
     implementation of best management practices on private lands; 
     and
       (8) provide for the development of proposals for a 
     monitoring system that--
       (A) builds upon existing data available from private, 
     Federal, and State sources;
       (B) provides for the coordinated collection, evaluation, 
     and interpretation of additional data as needed or collected; 
     and
       (C) will provide information to--
       (i) assess existing resource and socioeconomic conditions;
       (ii) identify priority implementation actions; and
       (iii) assess the effectiveness of actions taken.

     SEC. 4. RIO PUERCO MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established the Rio Puerco 
     Management Committee (referred to in this section as the 
     ``Committee'').
       (b) Membership.--The Committee shall be convened by a 
     representative of the Bureau of Land Management, and shall 
     include representatives from--
       (1) the Rio Puerco Watershed Committee;
       (2) affected tribes and pueblos;
       (3) the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture;
       (4) the Bureau of Reclamation;
       (5) the Geological Survey;
       (6) the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
       (7) the Fish and Wildlife Service;
       (8) the Army Corps of Engineers;
       (9) the Soil Conservation Service of the Department of 
     Agriculture;
       (10) the State of New Mexico, including the New Mexico 
     Environment Department and the State Engineer;
       (11) affected local Soil and Water Conservation Districts;
       (12) the Elephant Butte Irrigation District;
       (13) private landowners; and
       (14) other interested citizens.
       (c) Duties.--The Rio Puerco Management Committee shall--
       (1) advise the Secretary of the Interior, acting through 
     the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, on the 
     development and implementation of the Rio Puerco Management 
     Program described in section 3; and
       (2) serve as a forum for information about activities that 
     may affect or further the development and implementation of 
     the best management practices described in section 3.
       (d) Termination.--The Committee established by this 
     subsection shall terminate on the date 10 years after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 5. REPORT.

       Two years after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
     biennially thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior, in 
     consultation with the Rio Puerco Management Committee, shall 
     transmit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
     the Senate and to the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
     House of Representatives a report containing--
       (1) a summary of accomplishments as outlined in section 3; 
     and
       (2) proposals for joint implementation efforts, including 
     funding recommendations.

     SEC. 6. LOWER RIO GRANDE HABITAT STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior shall, in 
     cooperation with appropriate State agencies, conduct a study 
     of the Rio Grande from Caballo Lake at least to Sunland Park, 
     New Mexico. The study shall include--
       (1) a survey of the current habitat conditions of the river 
     and its riparian environment;
       (2) identification of the changes in vegetation and habitat 
     over the past 400 years and the effect of the changes on the 
     river and riparian area; and
       (3) an assessment of the feasibility, benefits, and 
     problems associated with activities to prevent further 
     habitat loss and restoration of habitat through 
     reintroduction or establishment of appropriate native plant 
     species.
       (b) Transmittal.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the 
     Secretary shall transmit the study authorized by this section 
     to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
     Senate and to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
     of Representatives.

     SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such funds not 
     exceeding $7,500,000 as may be necessary to implement 
     sections 1 through 5 of this Act during the first 10 full 
     fiscal years after the date of enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Minnesota [Mr. Vento] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Wyoming [Mr. Thomas] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento]


                             general leave

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
the Senate bill presently under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1919 is similar to a bill (H.R. 4010) introduced by 
our committee colleague from New Mexico [Mr. Richardson]. It is 
intended to facilitate a cooperative effort to improve the management 
of lands in the Rio Puerco Watershed, in New Mexico.
  The Rio Puerco is a major tributary of the Rio Grande, flowing into 
that river northwest of Albuquerque and draining a watershed of more 
than 7,000 square miles.
  However, the Rio Puerco's contribution to the Rio Grande is primarily 
sediment.
  Downstream, from the rivers' confluence, the Elephant Butte reservoir 
provides water storage for irrigated agriculture and municipalities in 
New Mexico and Texas. The reservoir's storage capacity and expected 
useful life have been significantly reduced by sedimentation. Half the 
sediment entering the reservoir, but less than 10 percent of the water, 
is from the Rio Puerco.
  This condition is the result of accelerated, progressive soil 
erosion. Such erosion within the Rio Grande Basin, and particularly 
within the draining of the Rio Puerco, threatens the continued vitality 
of the Rio Grande's aquatic system and the productivity of lands within 
the entire basin.
  The area drained by the Rio Puerco is a mosaic of land ownerships and 
Federal agency managements, with no single agency having watershed-wide 
responsibility or expertise.
  The BLM is responsible for management of a significant part of the 
Federal lands involved, and since the 1960's has done work--under the 
so-called frail lands program that has had positive effects, but the 
Rio Puerco's condition remains unsatisfactory and in need of more 
coordinated management on an ecosystem basis.
  Toward this end, this bill would direct BLM to establish a 
clearinghouse for research and information, and to develop a plan for 
restoration of the Rio Puerco watershed.
  The bill would require identification of goals and objectives for 
landowners and land-managers and of various alternative actions to meet 
the goals and objectives.
  The purpose of the bill is to promote cooperative efforts, including 
public participation and community outreach, to improve and maintain 
ecological, cultural, and economic conditions in the area, including a 
formal advisory role for committee made up of representatives of 
relevant Federal and State agencies, affected Indian tribes and 
pueblos, local soil and water conservation districts, the Elephant 
Butte irrigation district, private landowners, and other interested 
citizens.
  The bill would also require the Fish and Wildlife Service, in 
cooperation with State agencies, to assess ways to stop habitat loss 
and possible reestablishment, or introduction of native plant species 
in the Rio Grande Valley.
  While the BLM and other Federal agencies already have the authority 
to carry out the work envisioned in the bill, enactment of the bill is 
intended to give a higher profile of that work, and to encourage 
greater cooperation and coordination in carrying it out.
  In committee, S. 1919 was amended to provide for ``sunsetting'' the 
bill's advisory committee, to make clear that the bill will not 
restrict the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Service to study 
additional parts of the Rio Grande Valley, and to place a cap on the 
bill's authorization of appropriations.
  With these amendments, S. 1919 was approved by the committee without 
controversy. I urge its passage by the House.

                              {time}  2030

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMAS of Wyoming. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in committee there were concerns raised about the need 
for enacting S. 1919, which would establish a clearing house for 
research and information regarding the Rio Puerco River. The Bureau of 
Land Management testified that this bill does not give them any new 
authority and that the Bureau is already completing most of this work.
  The siltation problem in the Rio Puerco River has existed for 
hundreds of years. This is not a man-made problem and the fear is that 
we are throwing money at a problem only mother nature can fix. I 
support the Chairman's amendment to sunset the program after 10 years 
and to cap the authorization limits.
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 
1919, the Rio Puerco Watershed Act of 1994. This legislation, which was 
introduced by Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, is identical to my 
bill, H.R. 4010.
  I would like to thank Chairmen Vento and Miller for their willingness 
to move on this important legislation as quickly as possible.
  In addition, Chairman Studds deserves special praise for allowing 
this bill to move forward from his committee as well.
  The Rio Puerco watershed in northern New Mexico is severely 
threatened by a combination of factors such as loss of native 
vegetation, introduction of exotic species, alteration of riparian 
habitat, and excessive sedimentation in the river. Extensive ecological 
changes have occurred in the watershed including erosion of the 
agricultural and range lands and loss of biological diversity and 
available surface water.
  Unfortunately, these problems have been complicated by the 
interlocking land ownership of the area which includes private, 
Federal, tribal trust, and State ownership.
  To address the many conflicting issues affecting protection of the 
area, the bill establishes a Rio Puerco Management Committee to include 
representatives from the Rio Puerco Watershed Committee, affected 
tribes and pueblos, all relevant Federal agencies and private 
landowners.
  In addition, the bill provides for the long-term protection of the 
river by requiring the Secretary of Interior to prepare a plan for 
restoration of the river within 2 years of enactment and to report to 
Congress on the Department's activities to fulfill the goals of this 
requirement.
  This is significant natural resources legislation for New Mexico and 
I am thankful for its consideration by the full House today.
  I look forward to its swift consideration in the Senate and its 
enactment into law later this month.
  Mr. THOMAS of Wyoming. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Inslee). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 1919, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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