NMOSE News:

SANTA FE — The Office of the State Engineer and Interstate Stream Commission are calling on lawmakers to approve a $1 million increase to its operating budget request for Fiscal Year 2027 and $131 million in special appropriations.

The agency will present its budget before the Legislative Finance Committee at 1 p.m., Nov. 20 at the State Capitol, Room 307.

The proposed budget expands programs, strengthens compliance with interstate water compacts, supports Indian Water Rights settlements, and ensures long-term sustainability of acequia and Rio Grande trust funds. It positions the state to proactively address projections that water supplies could decline by 25 percent over the next half century due to climate change.

The FY27 request prioritizes:

• Expanding water planning, education, and outreach under the Water Security Planning Act and 50-Year Water Action Plan.
• Implementing Indian Water Rights Settlements, unlocking billions in federal infrastructure funding.
• Strengthening compliance with the Rio Grande Compact to safeguard agricultural and municipal water supplies.
• Securing irrigation works and Rio Grande trust funds for long-term sustainability.

“This budget request reflects the urgency of New Mexico’s water challenges,” State Engineer Elizabeth Anderson said. “From climate change impacts to interstate compact obligations, we must invest to secure our water future.”

The request represents a pivotal opportunity to safeguard New Mexico’s water future. By providing water managers with the tools they need, lawmakers can help communities prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change, ensuring that New Mexico’s most precious resource is protected for generations to come.