As the new home of NMPIRG's environmental work,
Environment New Mexico can be contacted with any questions regarding this
news release.
"Congressman Tom Udall's 'Middle Rio Grande Emergency Water Supply Stabilization
Act of 2003' has drawn significant bipartisan support from the Albuquerque City
Council," stated Albuquerque City Councilor Eric Griego, who is sponsoring
a memorial supporting the bill in the city council. The memorial urges the U.S.
Congress to pass Udall's bill and President Bush to sign the legislation into
law.
"The City of Albuquerque
must be actively involved in comprehensive solutions for the Middle Rio Grande
- solutions that protect farmers, meet the needs of urban residents, and restore
a healthy bosque," said Griego. "Congressman Udall's bill does precisely
that, and the co-sponsors of this memorial applaud his efforts."
Before the U.S. House of
Representatives adjourned for its August recess, Congressman Udall introduced
"The Middle Rio Grande Emergency Water Supply Stabilization Act of 2003"
(H.R. 2982.) The bill is currently awaiting action by the House Committee on
Resources, which is meeting for a field hearing in Belen on Saturday, September
6.
"Our water resources
are over-allocated, and population growth is stretching these precious supplies
to the limits. My bill faces these facts and other crucial issues," said
Udall. "This bill sets up incentives to conserve our water resources and
develop collaborative solutions at the local level. It restores and protects
the Rio Grande and the surrounding bosque, and encourages technological solutions
for new sources of water and methods to harness such technology to increase
water efficiency."
A diverse array of citizens
has also registered support for HR 2982 as a balanced and comprehensive approach
to meeting long-term water needs for healthy farms, cities and the environment.
"This is a really balanced
approach to addressing the Middle Rio Grande's long-term water needs, which
will ensure a high quality of life for current and future generations,"
said Don Dayton, Water Issues Expert for AARP New Mexico.
Sister Joan Brown, Ecology
Minister of the Social Justice Office, Archdiocese of Santa Fe, summed up why
the bill has such widespread appeal. "This legislation takes into account
the common good in its intention and proposed actions," she explained.
"The areas of the human, social, economic, ethical and religious factors
surrounding the issue of water are addressed in a balanced matter."
"It's nice to see Congressman
Udall leading the effort to find real solutions to providing water to farmers,
urban users and the environment," said Garrick Delzell, a South Valley
farmer. "This will go a long way to helping farmers increase our water
efficiency, which is key to protecting and sustaining our water supply."
Congressman Udall's Bill
does the following:
· Authorizes the
Secretary of Interior to contribute to a long-term solution for the Middle Rio
Grande River in New Mexico by preventing, reducing, or eliminating wasteful
depletion of waters. This would be achieved through the establishment of a water
supply stabilization program at the local level. Under this program, the Secretary
would provide financial and technical assistance to promote and encourage the
adoption and implementation of water conservation measures within the Rio Grande
Basin;
· The bill encourages
the implementation of water conservation measures that will improve water quantity
and water quality conditions needed to support a sustainable, living river environment
within the Middle Rio Grande Basin, and will result in conservation, recreation,
and other public benefits;
· The bill establishes
a three-year goal to achieve quantifiable improvements in irrigation efficiencies
through the incorporation of measures such as lining canals and ditches, and
the use of low-flow or drip irrigation systems and other modern hydrological
technologies;
· The legislation
directs the Interior Department to cooperate with the State of New Mexico, water
use organizations, and affected landowners to develop and implement a comprehensive
program to identify, remove and control salt cedar vegetation in the flood plain
of the Rio Grande River and its tributaries, and to replant and reestablish
native vegetation if appropriate;
· The bill authorizes
grants for basic research on technological solutions for accessing new sources
of water including, desalination, and the purification of brackish and other
types of unpalatable water. The bill also authorizes federal grants for research
to increase water efficiency; and
· The bill authorizes
funds to conduct studies to quantify the water needs, requirements and rights
of tribes and pueblos in the Middle Rio Grande Basin.
