Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman voted today to advance legislation that would improve aging water infrastructure on pueblo lands. 

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed a proposal sponsored by Bingaman that would provide federal resources to any of New Mexico’s tribes to assess pueblo irrigation infrastructure and initiate projects to rehabilitate and repair infrastructure as needed.  These improvements would conserve precious water resources and help the Pueblos weather times of drought.  

The proposal also directs the Secretary of the Interior to work with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Army Corps of Engineers to identify opportunities to use the authorities of those agencies to collaborate on projects that make sense to all involved.

“This proposal will do more than improve water infrastructure on New Mexico’s pueblo lands.  By offering federal support, we acknowledge both the significant cost of these repairs and the necessity of continued collaboration on them,” Bingaman said.  “It is my hope that this will not only prevent further deterioration of pueblo irrigation systems, but will helpful in improving water use and facilitating other improvements throughout the Southwest.”

The serious need for pueblo irrigation infrastructure rehabilitation was addressed in the Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Pueblo Irrigation Facilities Rehabilitation Report.  This measure addresses those concerns and incorporates their recommendations into the legislation. 

Bingaman’s measure has the support of the All Indian Pueblo Council.

  The bill can now be considered by the full Senate.