Lawmakers Fault Gov.'s Water Measures on Conservation
Associated Press
SANTA FE — Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are complaining that a $100 million-plus legislative package proposed by Gov. Bill Richardson for water needs in New Mexico falls short on conservation.
Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, said none of the package for the 2007 Legislature deals specifically with agricultural conservation — although agriculture accounts for 75 percent of the water use in New Mexico.
''We're throwing money at the problem, which government always does,'' Cervantes, himself a farmer, told a Thursday meeting of the legislative Water and Natural Resources Committee.
''That's one solution, but it's not a very comprehensive solution and it doesn't show the leadership we need to show on this issue,'' he said. ''I don't see the conservation component to this.''
Sen. John Ryan, R-Albuquerque, suggested some of the money be used for incentives to promote water conservation.
New Mexico law discourages agricultural conservation, since farmers who don't use their water rights risk losing them, he said.
''I'm afraid that there is a disincentive for conservation,'' Ryan said.
Cervantes said his family's large-scale farm went to water-saving drip irrigation, but said that disincentive kept it from expanding the system.
''Frankly, what's happening is farmers are trying to hold onto their land long enough to cash in on their water rights,'' he said. ''That's the mentality, use every acre-foot. Avoid conservation, because it's not being recognized as a benefit to them.''
Rep. Andy Nunez, D-Hatch, said he will introduce a tax credit for agricultural conservation in the session that begins in January, as he has in the past four sessions.
''I never could get it through my own committee, Taxation and Revenue,'' he said. ''If I put one in there for oil and gas, it would have gotten through, but I never could get one through for agriculture.''
State Engineer John D'Antonio, whose office is responsible for administering the state's water resources, said the Interstate Stream Commission is stressing conservation in its water management plan.
But he conceded conservation is not a major part of Richardson's proposal.
Other lawmakers criticized the governor's plan for not including extra money to adjudicate water rights.
The plan proposes $25 million for the Water Trust Fund, $10 million for statewide leak detection and repair, $10 million for water innovation projects, $15.3 million for a pipeline to connect water systems on the Navajo Nation, $12 million for Indian water rights settlements, $7.5 million to restore river ecosystems, $5 million to design a pipeline from Ute Reservoir, $5 million for the Strategic Water Reserve, $2.2 million to study the Salt Basin, $1.5 million for new staff, and $1 million for agricultural easements.
news 
E-mail Story
Print Friendly
