New Mexico Drought Preparedness Act of 2018

Summary

New Mexico Drought Preparedness Act of 2017 This bill directs the Bureau of Reclamation to carry out a water acquisition program in specified basins in New Mexico, under which Reclamation shall: (1) make acquisitions of water by lease or purchase of water rights or contractual entitlements from willing lessors or sellers, consistent with the Rio Grande Compact and applicable state water rights law; and (2) take other actions to enhance stream flow to benefit fish and wildlife (including endangered species), water quality, and river ecosystem restoration and to enhance stewardship and conservation of working land, water, and watersheds. Reclamation, in cooperation with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, may provide funding and technical assistance for the installation of metering and measurement devices and the construction of check structures to: (1) ensure the conservation and efficient use of water by reducing actual consumptive use or by not increasing the use of water, and (2) improve the measurement and allocation of water. Reclamation shall develop a comprehensive plan for the San Acacia and Isleta Reaches. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shall continue, for five years after enactment of this bill, the temporary deviation in the operation of Cochiti Lake and Jemez Canyon Dam that was initiated in 2009 and terminated in 2013, to evaluate the benefits of the deviation. The bill authorizes financial assistance to be made available for eligible water projects to help western states and tribal governments address drought-related impacts to water supplies or any other immediate water-related crisis or conflict. The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 is amended to: (1) authorize the use of water management improvement grants to assist applicants in planning for or addressing the impacts of drought, and (2) reauthorize for FY2017-FY2025 the Rio Grande Pueblo Irrigation infrastructure grant program.. The Department of Agriculture may allocate certain financial assistance made available under the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish special conservation initiatives at the local, state, or regional level to assist producers in implementing eligible activities on agricultural land in the western states for: (1) mitigating the effects of drought; (2) improving water quality and quantity; (3) restoring, enhancing, and preserving fish and wildlife habitat; and (4) promoting innovative and collaborative conservation tools and approaches.

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Timeline

1. 2 May 2017

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 2 May 2017

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 14 June 2017

   Committee

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-38.

   Source: Committee

4. 2 October 2018

   Reported

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   Source: Committee

5. 14 November 2018

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 645.

   Source: Calendars

6. 14 November 2018

   Reported

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-358.

   Source: Committee

7. 14 November 2018

   Reported

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-358.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Reported to Senate · 14 November 2018 · Official file
• Introduced in Senate · 2 May 2017 · Official file

Documents

6 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 14 November 2018

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate (PDF)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 14 November 2018

  DownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 14 November 2018

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 2 May 2017

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 2 May 2017

  DownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 2 May 2017

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] · D · Sponsor
• · sseg00 · Standing

Related records

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