ALBUQUERQUE BERNALILLO COUNTY
WATER UTILITY AUTHORITY
BILL NO. R-22-16
RESOLUTION
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Authorizing the Executive Director to Enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with The Nature Conservancy
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WHEREAS, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the land and water on which all life depends; and
WHEREAS, the mission of the Water Authority is to provide a resilient, sustainable water supply to the customers in its service area; and
WHEREAS, the Water Authority Board adopted the update to the Water Resources Management Strategy: Water 2120 on September 21, 2016; and
WHEREAS, watershed management is one of the key policies of Water 2120; and
WHEREAS, The Nature Conservancy manages the Rio Grande Water Fund for the purpose of funding watershed management projects; and
WHEREAS, the Rio Grande and its tributaries within New Mexico (the “Rio Grande Watershed”) is a major source of water for more than half of the state’s population, including those living in metropolitan and rural communities and on Native American pueblos and tribal lands; and
WHEREAS, severe wildfires and the resulting post-fire effects, as seen after the 2011 Las Conchas fire may impact surface water sources and supplies by introducing large quantities of sediment into reservoirs and the conveyance infrastructure that serves communities, acequias and irrigation districts; and
WHEREAS, the parties are signatories to the Rio Grande Wildfire and Water Source Protection Collaborative Charter (Charter), which was formed to fund restoration projects in the Rio Grande Watershed (Water Fund); and
WHEREAS, the Water Authority desires to grant funds to the Rio Grande Water Fund pursuant to the Charter and this Memorandum of Agreement.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE WATER AUTHORITY:
Section 1. The Executive Director requests the ability to confer with the Nature Conservancy to enter into an agreement as necessary to facilitate continue support of the Rio Grande Water Fund; and
Section 2. Hereby Authorizes the Executive Director to act on behalf of the Water Authority to sign an agreement whereby the Water Authority will provide funds to the Rio Grande Water Fund of $200,000 per year for up to ten years.