The New Mexico Legislature recognized the state's need for water planning and created the state's regional water planning program in 1987 to balance current and future water needs for a region. The legislature gave the Interstate Stream Commission the responsibility of overseeing a regional planning grant program and the planning process itself. The Commission has worked with all regions of the state to prepare their own regional water plans. Once regional water plans are completed, the Office of the State Engineer and Commission staff must review them. A regional water plan is completed when it is accepted by the Commission.