[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 116 (Monday, September 18, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9681-S9682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DOMENICI (for himself and Mr. Bingaman):
  S. 3907. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 
study of water resources in the State of New Mexico; to the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, above-average rainfall in New Mexico 
this summer has led many to turn a blind eye to the grim water 
situation faced by our State only 2 months ago. New Mexico was fast 
approaching a disaster due to drought. Many of our municipalities' 
wells were running dry and reservoirs were at dangerously low levels. 
Providence intervened; narrowly averting a crisis resulting from water 
scarcity.
  The development of the centrifugal pump was an event of great 
significance in the history of the West. Windmill driven pumps provided 
enough water for a family and several livestock. The centrifugal pump, 
on the other hand, was capable of pumping 800 gallons of water a 
minute, making possible the habitation of what was previously barren 
desert. To a large extent, this invention provided the water for 
growing towns and agricultural industry. However, it also resulted in a 
great dependence on groundwater. As such, we need to fully understand 
the nature and extent of our groundwater resources. This bill will 
provide us with the information necessary to ensure that the water on 
which we have come to rely is available for years to come.
  During times of drought, when surface water is scarce, we must be 
able to reliably turn to groundwater reserves. Approximately 90 percent 
of New Mexicans depend on groundwater for drinking water and 77 percent 
of New Mexicans obtain water exclusively from groundwater sources. 
While groundwater supplies throughout the State are coming under 
increasing competition, not enough is known about these resources in 
order to make sound decisions regarding their use.
  Nearly 40 percent of the State's population resides in the Middle Rio 
Grande Basin. Once thought to contain vast quantities of water, we are 
now faced with the reality the Middle Rio Grande Basin contains far 
less water than originally thought. Between 1995 and 2001, the United 
States Geological Survey undertook a study of the basin which added 
greatly to our knowledge regarding the primary source of water for our 
largest population center. Had we proceeded with our water planning 
without the information provided by this study, I have little doubt 
that we would ultimately find ourselves in a dire situation. However, 
there is much more to be learned about this basin.
  Roughly 65 percent of the State's population lives along the Rio 
Grande. Also located along the river are the four largest cities in New 
Mexico: Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Las Cruces. While the 
completion of the San Juan-Chama Diversion by the Albuquerque 
Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority will allow the county of 
Bernalillo and city of Albuquerque to take advantage of their 
allocation of San Juan-Chama water, the remainder of the cities and 
counties located along the Rio Grande will continue to receive the 
majority of their water from aquifers beneath the Rio Grande. Aside 
from the Middle Rio Grande Basin, we have limited knowledge of the 
amount of water contained in the aquifers below the Rio Grande, the 
rate at which they recharge, aquifer contamination, and the interaction 
between surface flows and ground water.
  Elsewhere in the State, even less is understood regarding groundwater 
resources. While there is limited unallocated surface water in the 
State, there are significant quantities of untapped underground water 
in the Tularosa and Salt Basins. The Tularosa Basin is approximately 60 
miles wide and 200 miles long. Making the conservative estimate that 10 
percent of the water contained in that aquifer is available for use 
through desalination, it would provide 100 years of water for a city 
the size of Albuquerque. With the development of desalination 
technology, I anticipate that even a greater amount of the brackish 
water contained in the Tularosa Basin will be available for human use.
  Another untapped water supply is the Salt Basin located in southern 
New Mexico. The basin lies in a geologically complex area and our 
understanding of the total resource is incomplete. However, initial 
estimates predict sustainable withdrawals on the order of 100,000 acre-
feet per year of potable water from the New Mexico portion of the 
aquifer. This is enough water to support a city the size of our largest 
municipal area. Additional brackish resources in that basin are highly 
likely. Because the basin is located near expanding metropolitan areas 
near the U.S.-Mexico Border, it is a resource of critical importance.
  The bill I introduce today would direct the United States Geological 
Survey, in collaboration with the State of New Mexico, to undertake a 
groundwater resources study in the State of New Mexico. A comprehensive 
study of the State's water resources is critical to effective water 
planning. Absent such a study, I fear that there is a significant 
likelihood that we may be depleting aquifers at an unsustainable rate.
  I thank Senator Bingaman for being an original co-sponsor of this 
legislation. I also thank Representative Heather Wilson for introducing 
companion legislation in the House of Representatives and I look 
forward to working with them to ensure the bill's passage.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 3707

       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 ``New Mexico Aquifer 
     Assessment Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 2. NEW MEXICO WATER RESOURCES STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting 
     through the Director of the United States Geological Survey 
     (referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary''), in 
     coordination with the State of New Mexico (referred to in 
     this Act as the ``State'') and any other entities that the 
     Secretary determines to be appropriate (including other 
     Federal agencies and institutions of higher education),

[[Page S9682]]

     shall, in accordance with this Act and any other applicable 
     law, conduct a study of water resources in the State, 
     including--
       (1) a survey of groundwater resources, including an 
     analysis of--
       (A) aquifers in the State, including the quantity of water 
     in the aquifers;
       (B) the availability of groundwater resources for human 
     use;
       (C) the salinity of groundwater resources;
       (D) the potential of the groundwater resources to recharge;
       (E) the interaction between groundwater and surface water;
       (F) the susceptibility of the aquifers to contamination; 
     and
       (G) any other relevant criteria; and
       (2) a characterization of surface and bedrock geology, 
     including the effect of the geology on groundwater yield and 
     quality.
       (b) Study Areas.--The study carried out under subsection 
     (a) shall include the Estancia Basin, Salt Basin, Tularosa 
     Basin, Hueco Basin, and middle Rio Grande Basin in the State.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and 
     the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives a 
     report that describes the results of the study.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
     this Act.
                                 ______