II 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2460

To provide assistance to the State of New Mexico for the development of 

comprehensive State water plans, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 20, 2004

Mr. DOMENICI introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL

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’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

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

9 the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bu-
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1 reau of Reclamation and the United States Geologi2 cal Survey. 

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

4 of New Mexico. 

5 SEC. 3. COMPREHENSIVE WATER PLAN ASSISTANCE. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—On the request of the Governor 

7 of the State and subject to subsections (b) through (e), 

8 the Secretary shall— 

9 (1) provide to the State technical assistance 

10 and grants for the development of comprehensive 

11 State water plans; 

12 (2) conduct water resources mapping in the 

13 State; and 

14 (3) conduct a comprehensive study of ground15 water resources (including potable, brackish, and sa16 line water resources) in the State to assess the 

17 quantity, quality, and interaction of groundwater 

18 and surface water resources. 

19 (b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Technical assistance 

20 provided under subsection (a) may include— 

21 (1) acquisition of hydrologic data, groundwater 

22 characterization, database development, and data 

23 distribution; 

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

25 groundwater monitoring networks; 
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1 (3) assessment of existing water resources, sur2 face water storage, and groundwater storage poten3 tial; 

4 (4) numerical analysis and modeling necessary 

5 to provide an integrated understanding of water re6 sources and water management options; 

7 (5) participation in State planning forums and 

8 planning groups; 

9 (6) coordination of Federal water management 

10 planning efforts; 

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

12 scenarios, and water plans developed by the State; 

13 and 

14 (8) provision of scientific and technical special15 ists to support State and local activities. 

16 (c) ALLOCATION.—In providing grants under sub17 section (a), the Secretary shall, subject to the availability 

18 of appropriations, allocate— 

19 (1) $5,000,000 to develop hydrologic models 

20 and acquire associated equipment for the New Mex21 ico Rio Grande main stem sections and Rio Taos 

22 and Hondo, Rios Nambe, Pojoaque and Teseque, 

23 Rio Chama, and Lower Rio Grande tributaries; 

24 (2) $1,500,000 to complete the hydrographic 

25 survey development of hydrologic models and acquire 
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1 associated equipment for the San Juan River and 

2 tributaries; 

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

4 survey development of hydrologic models and acquire 

5 associated equipment for Southwest New Mexico, in6 cluding the Animas Basin, the Gila River, and tribu7 taries; 

8 (4) $4,500,000 for statewide digital 

9 orthophotography mapping; and 

10 (5) such sums as are necessary to carry out ad11 ditional projects consistent with subsection (b). 

12 (d) NON-REIMBURSABLE AND NO COST-SHARING.—

13 Any assistance or grants provided to the State under this 

14 Act shall be made on a non-reimbursable basis and with15 out a cost-sharing requirement. 

16 (e) AUTHORIZED TRANSFERS.—On request of the 

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

18 Federal agencies any amounts made available to the State 

19 to carry out this Act. 

20 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

21 There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 

22 this Act $2,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 

23 2009.

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