[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NEW MEXICO WATER PLANNING ASSISTANCE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. HEATHER WILSON

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 10, 2007

  Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the 
New Mexico Water Planning Assistance Act, H.R. 1904.
  The New Mexico Water Planning Assistance Act 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 
17, 2007, and Senator Domenici and Senator Bingaman introduced 
companion legislation in the Senate on January 10, 2007.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior 
to: provide to New Mexico technical assistance and grants for the 
development of comprehensive State water plans; conduct water resources 
mapping in New Mexico; and 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: $5 million to develop 
hydrologic models of eight New Mexico river systems; $2.5 million to 
complete the hydrologic models for the San Juan River and other 
Southwest New Mexico river systems; and $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, the 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, 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 upstream 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.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1904.

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