Our Action Plan to Secure New Mexico’s Water Future

As New Mexicans face increasing water scarcity and emerging threats to our existing resources, we will meet our goal of providing sustainable clean water to communities through the combination of:

    • Strategic investments of federal and state funding
    • Broad deployment of advanced technology
    • Collaboration with community members and leaders across all levels of government
    • Utilization of cultural and traditional knowledge of our tribal and acequia communities; and
    • Modern policy approaches tailored for 21st century water resource management

    To secure New Mexico’s water supply for the next 50 years and beyond, we will prioritize actions for water conservation, new water supplies and water and watershed protection.

    Our efforts will require sustained investments and contributions from everyone to expand upon the effective water programs that currently serve our State and Nations, Tribes and Pueblos. Some of the ongoing efforts that complement the priority actions highlighted in this Plan include:

    • Advancing Indian water rights settlements to build on the strong progress made in recent years to negotiate and implement agreements that resolve outstanding claims and secure water supplies for more communities
    • Robust regional water planning to implement the Water Security Planning Act of 2023
    • Implementing the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund
    • Continued funding and reforms for the Water Trust Board Improving opportunities for communities to leverage capital outlay funding to complete water projects
    • Advancing regionalization approaches that increase critical capacity for managing drinking water and wastewater systems, including through the Regional Water System Resiliency Act of 2023
    • Implementing the New Mexico Water Data Act of 2019; and
    • Broader investments in local capacity building and the water workforce

    We will also continue our high priority collaborative efforts with federal, Tribal and local partners to complete major drinking water supply projects that transform water security for communities, including the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project and the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority project. For more information about the many water programs and initiatives that informed this 50-Year Water Action Plan, see the List of Related Resources and the list of the Governor’s Water Resilience Initiatives at the bottom of this page.