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SENATE MEMORIAL 3
57
TH LEGISLATURE
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
FIRST SESSION
, 2025
INTRODUCED BY
Peter Wirth
A MEMORIAL
RECOGNIZING THE WATERSHED HEALTH BENEFITS OF NORTH AMERICAN
BEAVER POPULATIONS; REQUESTING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A STATEWIDE
BEAVER MANAGEMENT PLAN.
WHEREAS, New Mexico has an arid climate that is typified
by long periods of limited precipitation interspersed by
infrequent heavy rainfalls or sudden snowmelts that are
difficult for soil to absorb, leading to harmful runoff; and
WHEREAS, the scarcity of water has made the considered use
and conservation of water resources a foundational element in
both New Mexico's culture and its economy; and
WHEREAS, for centuries, New Mexico's communities have
based their livelihoods and many cultural traditions on
irrigated agriculture; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico's rugged landscapes, containing
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diverse populations of wildlife, have attracted generations of
hunters and nature enthusiasts and are among the key
attractions for the state's tourism industry; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico is experiencing a multiyear drought
that is creating exceptional strains on farmers and the state's
wildlife resources; and
WHEREAS, maintaining, or restoring, upper watershed health
is an important element in assisting New Mexico's communities,
industries and wildlife to meet water scarcity challenges; and
WHEREAS, watershed health and restoration efforts
typically require coordination among private businesses and
organizations, as well as local, state, tribal and federal
agencies; and
WHEREAS, numerous state agencies participate in ongoing
watershed restoration efforts; and
WHEREAS, the dams, ponds and associated wetlands created
by the North American beaver are known to increase ground water
percolation, which raises local ground water tables and
storage; and
WHEREAS, beaver dams and ponds and their associated
wetlands attenuate erosion, instream silt loading and other
harmful effects associated with heavy rainfalls and sudden
snowmelts; and
WHEREAS, beaver ponds and their associated wetlands act as
contaminant sinks and filters, enhancing downstream water
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quality; and
WHEREAS, during extended periods of drought, beaver ponds
and their associated wetlands greatly enhance the resiliency of
riparian zones, including riverine plant communities and fish
and wildlife populations; and
WHEREAS, the department of game and fish has developed
guidance for individual landowners regarding how to relocate
beaver families to their land and how to mitigate or avoid
problems created by beavers already on their land; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico would benefit from a strategic plan
for statewide beaver management designed to capture the full
watershed benefits of beaver populations and minimize conflicts
with other land uses, such as agriculture and the development
of transportation infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the state of Utah adopted a statewide beaver
management plan developed in a process that involved a wide
range of public and private landowners, users and managers;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE
OF NEW MEXICO that the department of game and fish, the
forestry division of the energy, minerals and natural resources
department and the state land office be requested to develop
recommendations jointly on how New Mexico may proceed to
develop a statewide beaver management plan. The
recommendations should include which agency should take the
lead role for development, which stakeholder groups should be
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included in the development and a time line and budget; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of game and
fish, the forestry division of the energy, minerals and natural
resources department and the state land office be requested to
present their recommendations jointly to the appropriate
interim committee or committees by October 1, 2025; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the director of the department of game and fish,
the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources, the
commissioner of public lands and the co-chairs of the New
Mexico legislative council.
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