Senator Steve Neville's Senate Memorial No. SM37 requesting Congress to Approve the Navajo Water Rights Settlement, the text of which is below and also attached.
We should oppose all of this - please pass this on to others. Get people to call Neville's office and say they are opposed to his Senate Memorial and ask "why are you selling us out?" etc. etc.
Here's Neville's contact info:
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4266
Office Phone: (505) 327-5450
Home Phone: (505) 334-8726
E-mail: <mailto:nmsenate@msn.com>nmsenate@msn.com
Victor
SENATE MEMORIAL 37
48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008
INTRODUCED BY
Steven P. Neville
A MEMORIAL
REQUESTING CONGRESS TO APPROVE THE NAVAJO WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATED BY NEW MEXICO AND THE NAVAJO NATION.
WHEREAS, resolution of the Navajo water rights claims is to the advantage of the state of New Mexico, the Navajo Nation and the United States; and
WHEREAS, the New Mexico interstate stream commission and the Navajo Nation negotiated a proposed settlement, which has been submitted to congress; and
WHEREAS, the proposed settlement calls for increased diversions to Navajo lands near Shiprock; and
WHEREAS, the priority date of these diversions, 1858, is significantly older than non-Navajo rights; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico is subject to frequent drought, creating water shortages that would be borne by non-Navajos; and
WHEREAS, Navajo lake has extensive storage capacity that could be used to offset these shortages;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that congress be requested to approve the proposed Navajo water rights settlement as negotiated by New Mexico and the Navajo Nation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, as part of the settlement, congress be requested to support provisions for storage of thirty thousand acre-feet of water in Navajo lake to be used by non-Navajo irrigators in times of severe drought and water shortages; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico congressional delegation, the Navajo Nation and the governor.
Click Here for complete version (PDF file)
