[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 27, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H7643-H7644]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NEW MEXICO WATER PLANNING ASSISTANCE ACT
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1711) to provide assistance to the State of New Mexico for
the development of comprehensive State water plans, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1711
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 Water Planning
Assistance Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation and
the United States Geological Survey.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of New
Mexico.
SEC. 3. COMPREHENSIVE WATER PLAN ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--Upon the request of the Governor of the
State and subject to subsections (b) through (f), the
Secretary shall--
(1) provide to the State technical assistance and grants
for the development of comprehensive State water plans;
(2) conduct water resources mapping in the State; and
(3) conduct a comprehensive study of groundwater resources
(including potable, brackish, and saline water resources) in
the State to assess the quantity, quality, and interaction of
groundwater and surface water resources.
(b) Technical Assistance.--Technical assistance provided
under subsection (a) may include--
(1) acquisition of hydrologic data, groundwater
characterization, database development, and data
distribution;
(2) expansion of climate, surface water, and groundwater
monitoring networks;
(3) assessment of existing water resources, surface water
storage, and groundwater storage potential;
(4) numerical analysis and modeling necessary to provide an
integrated understanding of water resources and water
management options;
(5) participation in State planning forums and planning
groups;
(6) coordination of Federal water management planning
efforts;
(7) technical review of data, models, planning scenarios,
and water plans developed by the State; and
(8) provision of scientific and technical specialists to
support State and local activities.
(c) Allocation.--In providing grants under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall, subject to the availability of
appropriations, allocate--
(1) $5,000,000 to develop hydrologic models and acquire
associated equipment for the New Mexico Rio Grande main stem
sections and Rios Pueblo de Taos and Hondo, Rios Nambe,
Pojoaque and Teseque, Rio Chama, and Lower Rio Grande
tributaries;
(2) $1,500,000 to complete the hydrographic survey
development of hydrologic models and acquire associated
equipment for the San Juan River and tributaries;
(3) $1,000,000 to complete the hydrographic survey
development of hydrologic models and acquire associated
equipment for Southwest New Mexico, including the Animas
Basin, the Gila River, and tributaries;
(4) $4,500,000 for statewide digital orthophotography
mapping; and
(5) such sums as are necessary to carry out additional
projects consistent with subsection (b).
(d) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--
(1) In general.--The non-Federal share of the total cost of
any activity carried out using a grant provided under
subsection (a) shall be 50 percent.
(2) Form of non-federal share.--The non-Federal share under
paragraph (1) may be in the form of any in-kind services that
the Secretary determines would contribute substantially
toward the conduct and completion of the activity assisted.
(e) Non-Reimbursable Basis.--Any assistance or grants
provided to the State under this Act shall be made on a non-
reimbursable basis.
(f) Authorized Transfers.--On request of the State, the
Secretary shall directly transfer to 1 or more Federal
agencies any amounts made available to the State to carry out
this Act.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
Act $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010.
SEC. 5. SUNSET OF AUTHORITY.
The authority of the Secretary to carry out any provisions
of this Act shall terminate 10 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Mexico (Mr. Pearce) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Mexico.
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1711, sponsored by Congresswoman Heather Wilson,
authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to assist the State of New
Mexico in developing comprehensive water plans.
New Mexico is experiencing record drought, and limited Federal
assistance will help provide a water-use roadmap to overcome this and
future droughts. This legislation specifically authorizes water
resources mapping assistance in the State and allows for a
comprehensive study of New Mexico's groundwater resources to assess the
quantity and quality of the groundwater. Ultimately, the State and
local entities will make the water-use decisions, but this bill helps
provide the scientific data needed to make such decisions.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
[[Page H7644]]
(Mr. KIND asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, we have no objections in regards to this
legislation. We encourage its adoption and passage.
Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the
New Mexico Water Planning Assistance Act (H.R. 1711).
=========================== NOTE ===========================
September 27, 2006--On Page H 7644 the following appeared: Ms.
WILSON of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the New
Mexico Water Planning Assistance Act (H.R. 1711). The New Mexico
Water Planning Assistance Act (H.R. 1711) would assist the state
of New Mexico with the development of comprehensive state water
plans that will help the state more effectively manage our most
precious natural resourcewater.
The online version should be corrected to read: Mrs. WILSON of
New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the New Mexico
Water Planning Assistance Act (H.R. 1711). The New Mexico Water
Planning Assistance Act (H.R. 1711) would assist the state of New
Mexico with the development of comprehensive state water plans
that will help the state more effectively manage our most precious
natural resourcewater.
========================= END NOTE =========================
The New Mexico Water Planning Assistance Act (H.R. 1711) would assist
the state of New Mexico with the development of comprehensive state
water plans that will help the state more effectively manage our most
precious natural resource--water.
I introduced the New Mexico Water Planning Assistance Act on April
19, 2005 and Senator Domenici and Senator Bingaman introduced companion
legislation in the Senate on January 26, 2005.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior
to: (1) provide to New Mexico technical assistance and grants for the
development of comprehensive State water plans; (2) conduct water
resources mapping in New Mexico; and (3) conduct comprehensive studies
of groundwater resources in New Mexico to assess the quantity, quality,
and interaction of groundwater and surface water resources.
The legislation also directs the Secretary, subject to the
availability of appropriations, to allocate: (1) $5 million to develop
hydrologic models of eight New Mexico river systems; (2) $2.5 million
to complete the hydrologic models for the San Juan River and other
Southwest New Mexico river systems; and (3) $4.5 million for statewide
digital orthophotography mapping. The federal cost share shall be on a
50-50 match basis, and all federal funds are to be non-reimbursable.
Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico was the home to many
indigenous southwestern peoples from A.D. 850 to 1250. Unfortunately,
the Chacoans ingenuity in storing and channeling water was not enough
to save them from a 50-year drought that began in 1130. The Chacoan
pueblo people left Chaco Canyon in stages and established a string of
pueblos along the Rio Grande and a few other desert rivers.
Mr. Speaker, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation, and state conservancy and irrigation districts flood
control and reclamation projects along New Mexico's river systems that
store water during wet years for use during dry years help ensure that
New Mexico's current population will not have to relocate during
extended periods of drought--like the Chacoans were forced to do more
than eight centuries ago.
However, like much of the West, the demands on New Mexico's ground
and fresh water resources are immense and growing. For example, Mr.
Speaker, the First Congressional District of New Mexico is bisected by
the Rio Grande. The flows of the Middle Rio Grande serve the biggest
city in New Mexico, Albuquerque, many smaller cities, six Indian
pueblos, and a network of agriculture users. Many of these farmers
irrigate the same land as their Spanish ancestors did over 4 centuries
ago. In addition there is the endangered silvery minnow, which, under a
2003 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion, requires 180
miles of continuous minimum river flow in the Middle Rio Grande.
New Mexico has an average allotment of 393,000 acre-feet of Rio
Grande water under the 1938 interstate compact that apportions the Rio
Grande between Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. These demands
have stretched this allotment to the limit. Further complicating the
picture is the fact that Article VII of the Rio Grande Compact severely
restricts New Mexico's ability to store native water up stream at
Heron, Abiquiu, El Vado, or Cochiti Reservoir.
Thus far, New Mexico's water managers have been able to stretch New
Mexico limited water supplies to meet the expanding demands of New
Mexico cities, industries, Indian pueblos, and endangered species,
without widespread displacement of its historical agriculture users. By
providing federal water planning assistance to New Mexico's water
managers this important legislation will help stretch New Mexico's
limited water resources; and, as a result, will help prevent waters
conflict in New Mexico well into the future.
In closing, I want to thank Chairman Pombo, Subcommittee Chairman
Radanovich, and their staffs for working so hard on legislation. I
particularly wanted to thank Water and Power Subcommittee staff members
Kiel Weaver, Lane Dickson, and Michael Correia for there work on this
bill. I also wanted to thank Nate Gentry, who works on Senator
Domenici's Energy and Natural Resources staff, and was instrumental in
helping draft this important piece of legislation. I also wanted to
thank New Mexico Interstate Stream Commissioner Estaban Lopez who made
the trip to Washington D.C. to testify in support of this legislation
before the House Resources Subcommittee on Water and New Mexico and
State Engineer John DAntonio who testified on the Senate companion
legislation in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. They
both do an excellent job overseeing and managing New Mexico most
precious natural resource--water. I also want to thank Office of the
State Engineer General Counsel DL Sanders and Interstate Stream
Commission General Counsel Tanya Trujillo for their work on this
legislation.
I am very pleased that the legislation is going to be voted on by the
full House of Representatives so that this legislation can come one
step closer to becoming law and New Mexico can come is one step closer
to getting much needed federal assistant with its water planning
efforts.
Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1711, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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