109TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 178

AN ACT

To provide assistance to the State of New Mexico for the

development of comprehensive State water plans, and

for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘New Mexico Water

5 Planning Assistance Act’’.
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1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

2 In this Act:

3 (1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means

4 the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bu5 reau of Reclamation and the United States Geologi6 cal Survey.

7 (2) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State

8 of New Mexico.

9 SEC. 3. COMPREHENSIVE WATER PLAN ASSISTANCE.

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Upon the request of the Governor

11 of the State and subject to subsections (b) through (f),

12 the Secretary shall—

13 (1) provide to the State technical assistance

14 and grants for the development of comprehensive

15 State water plans;

16 (2) conduct water resources mapping in the

17 State; and

18 (3) conduct a comprehensive study of ground19 water resources (including potable, brackish, and sa20 line water resources) in the State to assess the

21 quantity, quality, and interaction of groundwater

22 and surface water resources.

23 (b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Technical assistance

24 provided under subsection (a) may include—
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1 (1) acquisition of hydrologic data, groundwater

2 characterization, database development, and data

3 distribution;

4 (2) expansion of climate, surface water, and

5 groundwater monitoring networks;

6 (3) assessment of existing water resources, sur7 face water storage, and groundwater storage poten8 tial;

9 (4) numerical analysis and modeling necessary

10 to provide an integrated understanding of water re11 sources and water management options;

12 (5) participation in State planning forums and

13 planning groups;

14 (6) coordination of Federal water management

15 planning efforts;

16 (7) technical review of data, models, planning

17 scenarios, and water plans developed by the State;

18 and

19 (8) provision of scientific and technical special20 ists to support State and local activities.

21 (c) ALLOCATION.—In providing grants under sub22 section (a), the Secretary shall, subject to the availability

23 of appropriations, allocate—

24 (1) $5,000,000 to develop hydrologic models

25 and acquire associated equipment for the New Mex-
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1 ico Rio Grande main stem sections and Rios Pueblo

2 de Taos and Hondo, Rios Nambe, Pojoaque and

3 Teseque, Rio Chama, and Lower Rio Grande tribu4 taries;

5 (2) $1,500,000 to complete the hydrographic

6 survey development of hydrologic models and acquire

7 associated equipment for the San Juan River and

8 tributaries;

9 (3) $1,000,000 to complete the hydrographic

10 survey development of hydrologic models and acquire

11 associated equipment for Southwest New Mexico, in12 cluding the Animas Basin, the Gila River, and tribu13 taries;

14 (4) $4,500,000 for statewide digital

15 orthophotography mapping; and

16 (5) such sums as are necessary to carry out ad17 ditional projects consistent with subsection (b).

18 (d) COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.—

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—The non-Federal share of

20 the total cost of any activity carried out using a

21 grant provided under subsection (a) shall be 50 per22 cent.

23 (2) FORMOF NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The non24 Federal share under paragraph (1) may be in the

25 form of any in-kind services that the Secretary de-
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1 termines would contribute substantially toward the

2 conduct and completion of the activity assisted.

3 (e) NON-REIMBURSABLE BASIS.—Any assistance or

4 grants provided to the State under this Act shall be made

5 on a non-reimbursable basis.

6 (f) AUTHORIZED TRANSFERS.—On request of the

7 State, the Secretary shall directly transfer to 1 or more

8 Federal agencies any amounts made available to the State

9 to carry out this Act.

10 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

11 There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out

12 this Act $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through

13 2010.

Passed the Senate July 26, 2005.

Attest:

Secretary.
109TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 178

AN ACT

To provide assistance to the State of New Mexico

water plans, and for other purposes.for the development of comprehensive State