Task Force,
Outlined below are the topics which the Planning and Zoning Department find to be of high priority for discussion for this evenings Task Force Meeting. I wanted to send you this priority list before the meeting to somewhat outline our high priority concerns for the meeting tonight.
I look forward to introducing myself, listening to points of view of all members and interested people for the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan as well as discussing the topics listed below.
I look forward to seeing you tonight from 4 to 6 PM at the Rural Events Center on Hwy. #554.
Sincerely yours,
Christopher Palmer
Comprehensive Plan Task Force Meeting Agenda
July 23, 2008, Rural Events Center, Rio Arriba County
Topics of Discussion
V. Land and Water
Goal 1: Strengthen the connection between the land and water, and protect the water rights within the region.
Strategy.1: Map the acequias with priority dates of water rights and Mutual Domestic Water Associations and delineate the watersheds that serve them. Encourage the acequia and mutual domestic areas with serious water supply or water rights issues to work with the County and OSE in establishing Critical Management Areas and Stream Corridor Areas.
Goal 2: Protect and restore irrigated agricultural lands for livestock and agricultural production purposes and encourage/promote managed development on dry land.
Strategy 7: Identify, map and protect significant agricultural and grazing lands, prioritize lands for conservation, and work with non-profit conservation organizations to utilize conservation easements, grass banks, purchase of development rights (PDR), etc, where appropriate.
Strategy 9: Amend the Irrigated Agricultural Land Protection Ordinance to improve its effectiveness in conserving agricultural lands within subdivisions.
Strategy 10: Create an irrigated agricultural land overlay zone in the Design and Development Regulation ordinance so it applies to all irrigated lands.
Strategy 14: All new subdivisions should have community/shared wells and treated liquid waste systems, demonstrate a 100 year water adequacy plan and assure water rights to meet full demand at build out, including water for fire-fighting and facilities for storage, distribution and delivery for fire flows.
Strategy 17: Place limits on new domestic well uses as a condition of approval of any development through amendments to the Subdivision Regulations and Design and Development Regulation ordinance, such as shared wells, limiting amount of water to 1 ac/yr and metering each service connection.
Strategy 18: Promote and demonstrate domestic water conservation efforts, such as the use of drip irrigation, gray-water, water harvesting, low-flow fixtures, xeriscape landscaping through education programs and in the Subdivision Regulations and Design and Development Regulation ordinance.
Goal 3: Protect and restore the open spaces and natural resources such as the rivers, riparian areas, cienegas, floodplains, wildlife habitats, forests and grasslands.
Strategy 22: Protect riparian areas, wetlands, springs and watercourses through conservation easements, and establishing a 300’ wide riparian habitat corridor residential/commercial building setback from watercourses with flows greater than 1,000 cfs in a 100 year event (agricultural buildings are exempt from this setback).
Strategy 24: Protect and enhance riparian areas, springs, wetlands and river and stream corridors by promoting and implementing riparian restoration, re-vegetation, fencing enclosure projects and by minimizing the use of toxic herbicides in critical watershed areas.
Goal 5: Protect the region’s water supply and quality by creating opportunities for water recharge and storage.
Strategy 32: Establish Critical Management Areas and Stream Corridor Areas within the County in collaboration with the Office of the State Engineer and provide for their protection in the Subdivision Regulations and Design and Development Regulation ordinance.
Strategy 35: Pursue funding for water and wastewater maintenance and development projects from state and federal sources such as the State Water Trust Board, State Legislature, and NM Finance Authority.
