Rep. Peter Wirth and Sen. Carlos Cisneros, working with Environment New Mexico and Conservation Voters New Mexico, introduced legislation Wednesday that would require that the water development plans submitted by municipalities, counties and other local planning entities include specific criteria that address alternatives for balancing water demand and supply.
“Residential, commercial and industrial growth in areas where there are few protections and little water threatens to overwhelm New Mexico’s water resources. Existing water plans fail to incorporate a long-term perspective of how we’re going to meet this increased demand with existing water supplies,” said Lauren Ketcham of Environment New Mexico.
The bills (HB 1234/SB 1118 “Water Plans for Certain Entities”) amend existing statute, which holds that municipalities, counties and other entities that want to hold water rights they won’t put to immediate use be required to produce a water development plan for a forty-year period, which is submitted to the State Engineer.
The bills simply outline specific criteria that must be included in these water development plans, including the area’s existing water supply and demand, water uses and anticipated future water demand, identifying any “gaps” between water supply and demand. The water management plan would need to be updated every three years, be approved by the appropriate governing body and be made available to the public.
“House Bill 1234 complements regional water plans, and will give cities, counties and their citizens a better understanding of their water future,” said bill sponsor Rep. Peter Wirth.
New Mexico is a desert state where water is a precious commodity. Agriculture, industry and commerce, ecosystems and residents of all communities—urban, rural and traditional—compete against each other for limited water supplies necessary to survive and grow. Unfortunately, a failure to incorporate long-term water planning at a local, regional and state level will leave New Mexico’s communities of the future in jeopardy.
“In order to protect New Mexico’s open space, rural landscapes, culture and economic vitality, we need to do better in planning for our future,” said bill sponsor Sen. Carlos Cisneros.
Governor Bill Richardson has announced that the 2007 legislative session will be the “Year of Water” and will focus on solutions to addressing the state’s water problems. During this Year of Water, New Mexico needs new policy that will help our state keep up with changing demands and times.
“Now is the time to ensure that New Mexico law is keeping up with our water challenges,” said Leanne Leith of Conservation Voters New Mexico. “Consistent and useful local water planning is a big step toward responsible water use in the state.”
Like fiscal accounting, water development planning enables local governments to accurately track and update estimates of water supply and demand in order to ensure that a reliable source of water exists to meet present and future needs.
“In our desert state, water is our most precious resource. We should be at least as careful with our water as we are with our money. We must be responsible in balancing New Mexico’s water use with a renewable supply,” said Leith.
Information required in the bills’ Water Management Plans includes:
· An assessment of (1) existing water demand, including surface water diversions and groundwater depletions by category of use; (2) existing water supply, including point of diversion, purpose of use, place of use and priority of the rights; and (3) future water demands and needs for the forty-year planning period;
· A description of proposed management alternatives for balancing water demand and supply over the forty-year planning period; and
· An evaluation of the consistency of the water development plan with the regional water plan.
“With this overarching policy, New Mexico can ensure that its continued growth occurs in balance with its finite water supplies,” concluded Ketcham.
Additional Contacts:
Leanne Leith, Conservation Voters New Mexico- 505-710-8406
Sen. Carlos Cisneros- 505-986-4863
Rep. Peter Wirth- 505-986-4233
