Strategic Water Reserve
Issue Summary
New Mexico's rivers have always been the lifeblood of our state's communities. Today those rivers are increasingly threatened by the colliding forces of drought, population growth, and the competing demands of the federal government and bordering states.
In late 2003, Think New Mexico launched a campaign to transform the state's river management policies by creating a Strategic River Reserve: a pool of publicly held water rights dedicated to keeping New Mexico's rivers flowing to meet the needs of river-dependent endangered species and fulfill our water delivery obligations to other states.
This Reserve will avert expensive lawsuits over endangered species and interstate river compacts. It will also protect and restore the many benefits flowing rivers provide to the state's people and communities. Ultimately, it will give New Mexico a tool to achieve a sensible and sustainable water policy by balancing water use between cities, industry, agriculture, and our rivers.
Legislation to create a Strategic River Reserve was initially introduced in the 2004 legislative session, where it was expanded to include groundwater and renamed the Strategic Water Reserve. This bill passed the state House 47-6, but ran out of time as it awaited a hearing on the Senate floor in the final hours of the session.
In 2005, Think New Mexico brought the legislation back with the unanimous endorsement of the Interim Water & Natural Resources Committee and the strong support of Governor Richardson, who called for it in his 2005 State of the State address. This time the Strategic Water Reserve legislation passed the House 58-9, the Senate 40-0, and received $2.8 million in initial funding. In 2006, the Legislature and Governor appropriated an additional $2 million for the Reserve. Think New Mexico is continuing to work to ensure the continued funding and effective implementation of the Strategic Water Reserve throughout the state.
Get Involved
Thank Your Legislators
During the 2005 legislative session, Think New Mexico supporters sent more than one hundred messages to their legislators urging them to support the Strategic Water Reserve. This grassroots support was a big reason why the bill passed with such wide bipartisan margins on both the House and Senate. Messages from constituents are the key to winning lasting policy reform. Click here to thank your legislators for establishing the Strategic Water Reserve to protect and restore New Mexico's rivers.
Vocal public support of the Strategic Water Reserve played a big part in making it happen. Legislators and the Governor were attentive and responsive to the editorials and letters to the editor in newspapers across the state calling for the Strategic Water Reserve. We encourage you to express your support for the newly established Strategic Water Reserve through the media, as well as directly to your legislators. The Media section of Think New Mexico's Action Center provides the names and contact information for your local media, including newspapers, radio stations, and television stations, and you can compose and send any of them an email or letter right from there.
Resources & Media
Read Think New Mexico's policy report on the Strategic Water Reserve
Coalition in Support of the Strategic Water Reserve
For more information on the implementation and current status of the Strategic Water Reserve, check out the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission's webpage dedicated to the initiative
Governor Bill Richardson's Agenda for the 2007 "Year of Water" legislative session included an additional $5 million for the Strategic Water Reserve
Newspaper Articles & Editorials
Read Land Letter article on the Strategic River Reserve • January 25, 2007
Read Water Policy Report article on the Strategic River Reserve • April 18, 2005
Read Santa Fe New Mexican editorial in support of the Strategic Water Reserve • February 4, 2005
Read Albuquerque Tribune editorial in support of the Strategic Water Reserve • December 28, 2004
Read Santa Fe New Mexican editorial in support of the Strategic Water Reserve • January 19, 2004
Read Farmington Daily Times editorial in support of the Strategic Water Reserve • December 3, 2003
Read Albuquerque Journal editorial on Think New Mexico's Strategic Water Reserve initiative • December 2, 2003
Read Think New Mexico's opinion editorial about the Strategic Water Reserve • December 23, 2004
Radio Stories
Listen to KUNM Report on the Year of Water • December 1, 2006 (mp3, 7:27)
