How do the central New Mexico candidates for state Legislature stand on water issues?

The Middle Rio Grande Water Assembly (MRGWA), an all-volunteer water advocacy group for a region that includes three large watersheds –- the Rio Puerco, Río Jemez and Middle Río Grande –- tried to find out. But only 19 of the 70 candidates queried answered and returned the 13-question survey.

Some of the responses were heartening, however, according to the group.

According to Kevin Bean, president of the assembly, the survey results showed significant support for:

• Requiring water rights for new domestic wells.

• Prohibiting or restricting the condemnation of water rights through eminent domain.

• Prohibiting or restricting long-distance water transfers.

The survey results also showed unanimous support among the respondents for the prompt adjudication of Middle Rio Grande water rights, which would determine who holds senior and junior water rights and whether the region’s water is over-appropriated.

Bean added in an e-mail statement:

Candidates, however, were divided in their responses to such questions as whether the Legislature should be given authority to establish water use priorities and whether “in-stream flow,” i.e., keeping water in the river, should be recognized under state law as a “beneficial use.”

And while 10 respondents agreed that county governments should be prohibited from approving new subdivisions without an affirmative finding of water availability from the State Engineer, seven were opposed or neutral on the issue.

The report of survey results, prepared for the Water Assembly by John R. Brown, said balancing water use with renewable supply is “one of the most serious concerns for the state’s longterm future, and the role of the Legislature is key.”

And while fewer responded to the survey than hoped, Brown pointed out:

A broader goal is to inform and educate all candidates about critical water issues, the importance of water planning and the MRG Regional Water Plan. (This goal doesn’t depend on responses to the questionnaire, as long as candidates receive, read and consider the issues it raises.)

The survey was sent to New Mexico House and Senate candidates in Valencia, Bernalillo and Sandoval counties.

Incumbents who completed the survey were Miguel P. Garcia, Mimi Stewart, Larry Larranaga, Jimmie C. Hall, Jane F. Powdrell-Culbert, Gerald Ortiz y Pino, H. Diane Snyder, Cisco McSorley and Sue Wilson-Beffort, according to MRGWA.

Challengers who completed the survey were Bill B. O’Neill, Janice Saxton, Benjamin Rodefer, Paula Papponi, John Sapien, Victor Paul Raigoza, Eric Griego, Tim Eichenberg, Sander Rue and Spiro Gregory Vassilopoulos.

Annual water consumption in the Middle Rio Grande watershed averages 15 to 20 percent more than the renewable supply , according to the group’s water plan, which was adopted in 2004 by the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission and 19 local governments. Details of this deficit are available in the group’s water budget report.

The Water Assembly says it supports the adoption of sustainable water management policies to achieve the Regional Water Plan’s goal of “Balancing Water Use With Renewable Supply.” More information is available on its Web site.