Taos Commissioners Confront Regional Water Policy
Today’s County Commission meeting on Regional Water Policy should present the public with an extremely interesting discussion. In a nutshell, the Commissioners are confronting in microcosm what both the Abeyta—Taos Pueblo Water Settlement signatories studied over a course of more than 40 years. As well, the local complexities reflect the macrocosm of water policy throughout the west during the last hundred years or so.
Local issues of water transfers, acequia rights, watershed resources, conjunctive management, and hydrology engineering are on the agenda. While Commissioners have a duty to support the Abeyta signatories, which agreement is bringing millions of dollars into the community, the Commissioners also have a duty to preserve and protect acequia systems and watersheds outside the purview of Taos Valley itself, The Abeyta agreement only represents 54 acequias in Taos Valley but there are an estimated 150 or more, given Questa north and Penasco south. If the Abeyta signatories buy water rights from other unprotected acequias and deplete water source recharge, should Commissioners support or protest the process?
Call the challenge a “conundrum,” a “dilemma,” a “civil war” or “Catch-22” but it’s a typical reminder that we live in the “Land of Entrapment.” Give the Commissioners credit for confronting the issue.
TAOS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013
9:00 A.M.
TAOS COUNTY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
Notice is hereby given that the governing body of Taos County, the Board of County Commissioners, will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will take place at the Taos County Commission Chambers located at, 105 Albright Street, Room 106, Taos, New Mexico.
AGENDA
Call to Order
Roll Call
Pledge of Allegiance
Approval of Agenda
Amendments
Withdrawn Items
Planning Department – Discussion, consideration, and decisions regarding the following: (Executive and Public Session) Informational Items/Action Items
Meeting purpose and goals – Rick Bellis, Deputy County Manager, Planning Director
Staff report on Abeyta Settlement and local State Engineer’s meetings – Nathan Sanchez, Chief Planner
Proposal to compile and publish Hydrogeology Data from the Taos Valley – Toney Benson, TSWCD
A Presentation/update on the Public Welfare Statement – Simeon Herskovits, and Rudy Pacheco
Background
Current Taos Regional Water Plan Public Welfare Statement
Taos Water Advisory Committee – Rick Bellis, Deputy County Manager, Planning Director and Nathan Sanchez, Chief Planner
Review process
Meeting and procedural requirements
Rules of Procedure
Evaluation matrix based on review criteria
Reporting of Recommendation format
By-Laws
Enabling Ordinance 2013-9
Guidance to staff on water-related public policy issues
Abeyta Settlement sanctioned transfers
Separation of water rights from land
Inter-acequia and inter-ditch transfers
Mutual domestic or public water system transfers
Inter sub-region transfers within the county
Minimum size of transfers to be reviewed
Groundwater to surface water and surface water to groundwater transfers
Transfers within the same property or project for a different use
Committee concerns – Bob Romero, Vice Chairperson
Public concerns and comment regarding the Water Advisory Committee
Staff proposals for water-related options – presentation, Rick Bellis, Deputy County Manager, Planning Director
Adjournment
If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the meeting, contact the Taos County Administration Office located at 105 Albright Street, Suite G, Taos, New Mexico as soon as possible or call (575) 737-6300.