Congresswoman Stansbury Secures $55 Million In NM Water Infrastructure Funding In 2022 Water Resources Development Act

Statement

Yesterday, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass the 2022Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), securing three of her requested community-driven provisions for New Mexico in the legislation.

The projects and program funding that Rep. Stansbury secured include a $5 million funding authorization increase for the Tribal Partnership Program, a $50 million funding authorization increase for Section 593 infrastructure projects in central New Mexico, and a reduced cost-share for the Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection project from Bernalillo to Belen. Rep. Stansbury championed her community-based proposals before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure during a hearing on March 16.

"As our communities face unprecedented drought, wildfires, and hydrologic change, I'm proud to have secured critical funding in the Water Resources Development Act to help build long-term water infrastructure for communities across our state," said Rep. Stansbury. "New Mexicans are facing the worst drought in 1,200 years. The programs we helped secure in the WRDA bill will help to support critical infrastructure investments, provide funding for Tribal and Pueblo water projects and support flood control, drinking water, and other projects essential to communities across New Mexico."

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.

Tribal Partnership Program Funding

The Tribal Partnership Program is the only Corps authority that specifically directs partnerships with Tribes, facilitating vital funding for much-needed projects to promote environmental justice and equity. In addition to the $5 million funding authorization increase she secured in this year's WRDA, Rep. Stansbury helped include provisions directing USACE to provide technical assistance to Tribes to prepare for flooding, drought, and extreme weather events, establish a Tribal Liaison who will serve as the direct line of communication between the Secretary and Tribal communities, and provide a full cost-share waiver at the discretion of the Secretary.

Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Cost Share

Rep. Stansbury also secured a provision for the Middle Rio Grande Flood Protection Cost Share, which 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.

Increased Funding for Section 593

Rep. Stansbury's request to increase funding under the Section 593 Authorization and include water reuse projects was also included in the omnibus legislation. This increase will help to fund critical projects to protect the water security of New Mexicans, ensure access to clean drinking water, and ensure responsible management of water infrastructure projects across New Mexico's First Congressional District and across the state.

The Senate version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, championed by Senators Martin Heinrich (N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (N.M.) also includes these key projects, in addition to a provision authorizing an increase in funding for the 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.

In addition to the critical projects secured by Rep. Stansbury, New Mexico will benefit from other provisions in the 2022 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) including:

$22 million for water and wastewater infrastructure in Española
$15.5 million for water infrastructure in Farmington
$2.9 million for wastewater infrastructure in Mora County
$20.1 million for water and wastewater infrastructure in Santa Fe
A project authorization for water supply in the Lake Farmington Dam
A project authorization for dam safety improvements in the Lake Farmington Dam
Harmful algal bloom (HAB) activities in the Rio Grande

Source