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Congresswoman Stansbury Champions NM Water Infrastructure Funding During Key Committee Hearing

March 16, 2022

Congresswoman Stansbury highlighted the benefits of her seven New Mexico-based requested additions to the Water Resources Development Act

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) championed her New Mexico-based proposed additions to the 2022 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Rep. Stansbury’s projects would expand funding for long-term water infrastructure to build resilience during a time of unprecedented hydrologic change.  

Rep. Stansbury has requested seven community-driven and science-based proposals to expand funding for New Mexico’s water and environmental infrastructure, fund additional study of water systems in New Mexico to support water security, protect New Mexican communities from flooding, and ensure Pueblo and Tribal communities have the irrigation infrastructure, funding, and supports needed to promote environmental justice and equity in rural and underserved communities.  

“As we consider the 2022 Water Resources Development Act, many of you know our communities across the Southwest are gripped by the worst drought that we’ve seen in 1,200 years,” Rep. Stansbury said during her testimony. “New Mexicans are deeply concerned about ensuring that our water infrastructure is up to the challenge of responding to this drought and increasing hydrologic change that we’re seeing across our communities.”  

The biannual WRDA omnibus legislation authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) civil works activities. The projects follow USACE’s focus on three primary purposes of improving navigation, reducing flood risk, and restoring aquatic ecosystems.  

Rep. Stansbury’s community-driven proposals for inclusion under the 2022 WRDA are as follows: 

Increase Funding Under the Section 593 Authorization and Include Water Reuse Projects 

Increasing the Section 593 authorization, which supports infrastructure projects specifically in central New Mexico,  would help to fund drinking water, wastewater, water security, and stormwater projects throughout New Mexico’s First District and across the state. This additional funding is estimated to cover all anticipated Section 593 project funding needs for the next decade.   

National Academy of Sciences Reservoir Operations Study in the Rio Grande Basin 

This study will help water managers throughout the Rio Grande Basin improve management flexibility and water security. Modern, flexible management of the Rio Grande River is critical to New Mexico’s long-term water security in the face of climate change and crucial to sustaining New Mexico communities’ cultures, traditions, and ways of life.  

Updated Hydrologic Analysis Study for the Town of Estancia 

The town of Estancia, New Mexico is in critical need of a water detention pond and a new water diversion structure. A hydrologic analysis was completed in 2001 by the Corps, but the town has been unable to request funding for these projects without an updated hydrologic analysis. Updating this hydrologic analysis will help the town of Estancia build much-needed infrastructure to divert and preserve water, protect agricultural production, and reduce flood hazards. 

Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Cost Share 

This request will direct the Corps to honor the original cost- share authorization of 25% for the Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Bernalillo to Belen, New Mexico project. 

Pueblo Irrigation Infrastructure Program 

An additional $200 million for Reclamation’s Pueblo Irrigation Infrastructure Fund will address the infrastructure needs of projects identified by an irrigation infrastructure study authorized by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which are so vital to the economic, cultural, and environmental resilience of our Pueblo Tribal communities in the Rio Grande Basin. 

Acequia Resiliency and Tribal Acequia Program 

This increase in funding will allow for needed infrastructure improvements of river diversion structures, increased local capacity to manage and prevent invasions of plant species, and support research and development of management solutions for invasive aquatic plants. 

Increase Tribal Partnership Program Authorization 

The Tribal Partnership Program is the only Corps authority that specifically directs partnerships with Tribes, including much-needed projects that may not otherwise receive vital funding. The program supports the Administration’s commitment to Tribes and promoting environmental justice and equity, particularly in rural and underserved communities. 

Representative Stansbury’s written testimony submitted to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is here. Her remarks as delivered can be found below.  

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman, and thank you to our Ranking Member Rouzer. And thank you to everyone who serves on this important committee for the work that you do to support our water resources management across the country. As we consider the 2022 Water Resources Development Act, many of you know that our communities across the Southwest are gripped by the worst drought that we've seen in 1200 years. 

As we all know, this is very much the signature of climate change. New Mexicans are deeply concerned about ensuring that our water infrastructure is up to the challenge of responding to this drought and the increasing hydrologic change that we're seeing across our communities. To this end, we are humbling humbly requesting the inclusion of several community driven and science-based proposals in the 2022 Water Resources Development Act, which would greatly improve water infrastructure and management across our state and across our district.  

First, we humbly request that the committee consider authorizing an additional $50 million for the Section 593 Program and include water reuse projects as an environmental infrastructure project eligible for assistance under Section 593(c). Increasing the Section 593 authorization would help to fund drinking water, wastewater, water security, and stormwater projects throughout New Mexico's First Congressional District and across our state.  

We also humbly request that the committee include language directing the Army Corps and other federal water management authorities to work together with the National Academy of Sciences and other agencies to study system operations and management on the Rio Grande Basin, and recommend management models, systems, and operational changes. This study will help water managers throughout the Rio Grande improve management flexibility and water security, which is crucial to long term water security in our state, especially as we are facing climate change. I am also currently drafting legislation that would provide the flexible authorities to increase operational flexibility on the Rio Grande. Our office is also working to draft legislation to unleash the power of big data and water data to improve real-time water management across the country by improving federal water data availability, interoperability, and tools along with partnerships with state, Tribal, local and other entities. We have the capacity to fundamentally transform how we manage our water. I request that this committee consider prioritizing requests and projects that improve water data and tools and potentially include authorizing language to support this effort. 

Also included in our request is a request for the town of Estancia, New Mexico which is a rural, underserved community facing imminent threats of water shortages. We respectfully ask that the committee authorize $100,000 for the Corps to update the hydrologic analysis for the town of Estancia so that we can address the much-needed infrastructure needs of this community.  

Additionally, the Middle of Rio Grande Flood Protection Project, which was originally authorized with a 25% non-federal cost share, we request the original cost share be honored so that the project can move forward without further delays for our community. The Omnibus Public Lands Act of 2009 authorized $4 million to the Bureau of Reclamation to study irrigation infrastructure for 18 federally recognized Pueblos in New Mexico, who rely on water from the Rio Grande for cultural, agricultural, municipal, and ceremonial purposes. The study identified $280 million in irrigation improvements needed on public lands. While this may not fall within the jurisdiction of the Army Corps, I urge that the committee consider authorizing an additional $200 million to the Bureau of Reclamation should projects be included for other agencies for the public irrigation infrastructure improvement project.  

We also ask that the committee consider including funding for our Acequia Resiliency and the Tribal Acequia Program. Finally, I request that the committee authorize an additional $5 million for the Tribal Partnership Program. This program is the only Corps authority that specifically directs partnerships with Tribes and supports the Administration's commitment to addressing the water needs of our Tribal and rural communities, particularly in underserved communities. I thank the Madam Chairwoman and Ranking Member for the time and opportunity today, and look forward to working with you to see these proposals come to fruition.