HM 21 — "ACEQUIA DAY"

HOUSEA MEMORIAL 21DECLARING 57THFEBRUARY LEGISLATURE11, -2025 STATE"ACEQUIA OFDAY" NEWMEXICOIN -THE FIRSTHOUSE SESSIONOF 2025REPRESENTATIVES. INTRODUCED BY Joseph L.

Sanchez5 6WHEREAS, 8for 10generations, Aacequias MEMORIALhave DECLARINGsupported FEBRUARYa 11,way 2025of "ACEQUIAlife DAY"centered INaround THElocal HOUSEagriculture OFand REPRESENTATIVES.customs of sharing water;

14and WHEREAS, foracequias generations,are acequiasa centuries-old form of water governance in New Mexico that have supportedcreated a waycultural oflandscape lifewith centereda aroundweb localof agriculturewaterways andthat customsnurture tens of sharingthousands water;of acres of farmland;

and e t 17 WHEREAS, acequiasacequia arecustoms aand centuries-oldtraditions formregarding ofagriculture, waterseed wsaving, lirrigation npractices dand 18food governancepreservation inare Newimportant Mexicoaspects thatof havethe created a cultural landscapeheritage = = 19 a l with a web of waterwaysNew thatMexico; nurture tens of thousands of acres i a e r 20 of farmland;

and aWHEREAS, tacequias mcontribute mto 21the WHEREAS,well-being acequia customs and traditionslivelihood regardingof dthousands rof efamilies 22who agriculture,generate seedincome saving,from irrigationfarming practices and foodranching, cthereby esupporting sdiversification k 23 preservation are important aspects of theNew culturalMexico's heritageeconomy ofthrough elocal afood nproduction; b 24 New Mexico;

and u [ WHEREAS, acequias contribute to the well-being and .230548.1 livelihood of thousands of families who generate income from farming and ranching, thereby supporting diversification of New Mexico's economy through local food production;

and WHEREAS, the role of acequias in local governance has been affirmed by laws enacted by the state recognizing acequias as political subdivisions and enabling acequias to HM 21 Page 1 have important powers in local water management;

and WHEREAS, the New Mexico acequia association was established in 1989 to advocate for water policy beneficial to e t 17 acequias, and the acequia commission was created in statute in w l n d 18 1993 to serve as an advisory body in state government;

and = = 19 a l WHEREAS, hydrological studies by the New Mexico water i a e r 20 resources research institute at New Mexico state university a t m m 21 have documented hydrological benefits of acequias, including d r e 22 aquifer recharge through earthen ditches;

and c e s k 23 WHEREAS, as water management is complicated by long-term e a n b 24 drought and increasing demands for water, acequias will u [ continue to be important in any decisions about water policy at .230548.1 - 2 - the local and state levels;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be HM 21 Page 2 transmitted to the New Mexico acequia association and the acequia commission.

-HM 3 - 13 15 e t 17 w l n d 18 = = 19 a l i a e r 20 a t m m 21 dPage r3 e4 226 c8 e25 s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .230548.1