Interstate Stream Commission

Lower Rio Grande (LRG)
Water Management Pilot Project

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The State Legislature appropriated $7 million in 2020 to the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (NMISC) to develop and fund a Water Management Pilot Project (Project) for the Lower Rio Grande for fiscal years 2020 through 2023.  The purpose of the Project is to examine and test a variety of water management actions designed to reduce water consumption in the Lower Rio Grande basin (LRG) and promote long term sustainability within the New Mexico portion of the Rio Grande Project

The Project ultimately intends to develop an array of tools that can be used in the LRG in the future to better manage water, especially during extended drought.  Water management actions to be examined and tested over the next three fiscal years may include rotational fallowing, aquifer recharge, infrastructure improvement, and supply augmentation.  The primary focus for fiscal year 2021 will be on instituting rotational fallowing, evaluating local governance alternatives, and working with local LRG entities to establish a water user entity to manage longer-term Project efforts in conjunction with the NMISC. 

The first phase of the Water Management Project will be a Groundwater Conservation Pilot Program

Groundwater Conservation Pilot Program

Starting November 9, 2020, the NMISC will be accepting grant applications from members of the agriculture community that are willing to conserve groundwater. The purpose of this Program is to initiate groundwater conservation actions that will ensure that New Mexico has a sustainable groundwater supply not only today, but for future generations of New Mexicans.  The Program will provide grants to the agriculture community to conserve groundwater by not irrigating for a 12-month period.  Grants will be awarded through a Grant Agreement.

The NMISC has contracted with New Mexico First to conduct a series of Application Information Sessions for interested participants. The sessions will cover grant objectives, eligibility, the application requirements, timeline, and funding. Participants in the session will also review the grant application form and on-line platform. There will also be time for questions and answers. The session dates and times are:

• Thursday, November 12, 10:30-11:30 AM
• Thursday, November 12, 5:30-6:30 PM
• Tuesday, November 17, 1:00-2:00 PM

Register for one of these sessions at: https://oseinformationsessions.eventbrite.com

Visit the New Mexico First website for application information:
http://nmfirst.org/groundwater

OSE: Listening Session Report, Lower Rio Grande Groundwater Conservation Pilot Program

LINKS TO APPLICATIONS

• Lower Rio Grande Groundwater Conservation Program Database
• NMWRRS - New Mexico Water Rights Reporting System
• Doña County NM Eagle Web
• Sierra County GIS Online

MEETINGS

• FINAL Application Information Sessions Flier – for email distribution

MATERIALS

• Frequently Asked Questions - updated 11/09/2020
• Preguntas frecuentes
• Information Sheet - updated 11/09/2020
• Hoja informativa
• Grant Application Information Session Flier
• Listening Session Flier
• Folleto de la sesión de escucha
• LRG WCPP Grant Term Sheet

COMMUNICATIONS

• November 3, 2020 - NM Interstate Stream Commission to Hold Application Information Sessions for a Groundwater Conservation Pilot Program
• October 20, 2020 NM Interstate Stream Commission to Hold Listening Sessions for a Groundwater Conservation Pilot Program

DOCUMENTATION

• FYI 2021 LRG Pilot Work Plan
• DRAFT Regional Assessment of Fallowing Programs
• Legislative Appropriation:
  Regular Session: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/20%20Regular/final/HB0002.pdf
  Special Session (budget reduced): https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/20%20Special/final/HB0001.pdf