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 effective implementation of the Strategic Water Reserve throughout the state.