[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10689-S10690]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DOMENICI:
  S. 4007. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
feasibility studies to identify opportunities to increase the surface 
flows of the Rio Grande, Canadian, and Pecos Rivers in the State of New 
Mexico, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, monsoons this summer provided New Mexico 
with a brief reprieve from drought conditions that have persisted in 
some areas of New Mexico since 2000. We would be remiss to let our 
recent good fortune influence our long-term water planning. July and 
August this year were the wettest July and August in the past 112 
years. Clearly, we cannot assume these events will become commonplace. 
For this reason, we must take steps to ensure we are prepared for 
future droughts and increasing competition for limited water supplies.
  Despite summer rains, many reservoirs are still far below historical 
averages. According to recent reservoir data, Heron and El Vado 
Reservoirs on the Chama River are 71 percent and 56 percent of average, 
respectively; Conchas Reservoir on the Canadian River is 50 percent of 
average; and Elephant Butte Reservoir on the Rio Grande is 27 percent 
of average. Moreover, because storage in Elephant Butte Reservoir has 
not reached 400,000 acre feet, the Rio Grande Compact imposes 
restrictions on New Mexico's ability to store water in reservoirs on 
the Rio Grande and Chama Rivers. As such, recent rains have not 
contributed significantly to storage on those rivers.

[[Page S10690]]

  The water crisis we were facing prior to the summer rains led many to 
question how we will allocate this finite resource among numerous and 
competing needs. As witnessed on the Klamath River and the Rio Grande 
in New Mexico, water shortages often result in litigation that pits 
municipalities, agricultural producers, industry, Indians, and the 
environmental community against one another. In order to avoid such 
crises in New Mexico, the United States Congress has appropriated 
enormous sums in order to ensure that existing uses are not curtailed. 
However, unless new sources of water are found, future conflict over 
water is inevitable.
  Recent conditions illustrate the need for us to look for ways to 
supplement flows of the most severely impacted regions in order to 
stave off the hardships and conflict that result from lean water years. 
It is my sincere hope that record-breaking rains this summer will not 
breed complacency. The bill I introduce today would authorize the 
United States Bureau of Reclamation to investigate ways to increase the 
flows of the Rio Grande, Pecos and Canadian Rivers, the three rivers 
that have been most devastated by long-term drought. While little can 
be done to increase rainfall, it is my belief that this bill will help 
us begin to better understand ways to increase the flows of these 
rivers to help mitigate the damaging effects that drought imposes on 
the municipalities, agricultural producers, industries and endangered 
species that depend on the water these rivers provide.
  I thank Representative Heather Wilson for introducing a companion 
measure in the House of Representatives.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 4007

       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 Rivers 
     Feasibility Studies Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 2. RIO GRANDE, CANADIAN, AND PECOS RIVERS FEASIBILITY 
                   STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting 
     through the Commissioner of Reclamation (referred to in this 
     Act as the ``Secretary''), in coordination with the State of 
     New Mexico, shall, in accordance with this Act and any other 
     applicable law, conduct feasibility studies to identify 
     opportunities to increase the surface flows of the Rio 
     Grande, Canadian, and Pecos Rivers in the State of New 
     Mexico.
       (b) 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 feasibility studies 
     conducted under subsection (a).
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this Act 
     $3,000,000.
                                 ______