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Committee hears broad support for River Stewardship funding; appropriation tabled as budget covers $7 million
Summary
The committee heard testimony in strong support of HB92, which funds the New Mexico Environment Department’s River Stewardship Program. Witnesses described restoration projects, job creation and available matching federal funds. The straight $7 million appropriation was tabled because the House budget includes $7 million.
Representative Ortez presented HB92, the Healthy Rivers and Jobs Act, which would fund the New Mexico Environment Department’s River Stewardship Program to restore river habitat, improve water quality and help communities leverage federal matching funds.
Witnesses from the restoration community described tangible benefits of the program. Steve Roman of Keystone Restoration Ecology said river stewardship funds help match municipal dollars and cited a project in Los Alamos County where stream restoration protected a road repeatedly damaged after wildfire. Stephen Fry of Amigos Bravos and Emily Wolf of American Rivers described demand for the program and its role in supporting rural economies.
Representative Brown and other committee members asked for specifics about typical projects. Presenters and Dan Roper explained projects range from heavy-equipment re-meandering and boulder placement to large planting efforts, aquifer recharge and riparian revegetation; they emphasized the program’s goal of restoring ecological function in streams and wetlands. The department said the program reports through multiple channels, including CPMS, the Capital Outlay Bureau and ARPA reporting mechanisms, and maintains project profiles on its website.
Representative Vincent raised concerns that some restoration actions, such as temporary fencing to protect stream sources, could force ranchers’ cattle to walk farther for water. Presenters said fencing is sometimes a small-scale tool, that projects are collaborative with grazing permittees, and that they had not seen widespread fencing that would force miles-long detours for livestock.
Because the House budget already includes $7,000,000 for river stewardship, the committee moved to table the straight appropriation while acknowledging ongoing interest in moving the program forward. The committee said the discussion clarified project types, reporting, funding sources and local hiring expectations.
