[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 20216-20217]
[From the U.S. 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

[[Page 20217]]

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.
  Mr. Speaker, we have no objections in regards to this legislation. We 
encourage its adoption and passage.
  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 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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