Water Conservation

New Mexico’s water conservation traditions have been shaped over the centuries by our Pueblos, Tribes, acequias, agricultural producers, and cities and we rely on those communities to continue to develop innovative ways to conserve water. It is essential that we take action together to preserve and protect the unique traditions we have here in the State while we build a platform for future generations through additional water conservation measures tailored to the changing climate. As the largest water users throughout the State, agricultural producers understand the need to conserve and protect the State’s water resources in order to sustain a vibrant agricultural sector for generations to come. New Mexicans also understand the need to continue to employ water conservation and education to increase positive trends in municipal conservation as our communities grow and freshwater supplies decline. Over the coming decades, through implementation of the actions below and other parallel efforts, New Mexicans will conserve water through broader education on water conservation and actions we can take at home and work to preserve our most precious resource.

Develop a water education template

Incentivize agricultural water conservation and resiliency

Reduce leaks in drinking water infrastructure and increase municipal conservation

Improve water storage and delivery system efficiencies

Recent Highlights

A1: Main Stream New Mexico Regional Water Planning Campaign

Main Stream New Mexico is a campaign of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Water Planning Bureau. It is a resource for revitalized regional water planning under New Mexico’s Water Security Planning Act of 2023.

Learn More

A2: NMSU Holds 70th New Mexico Annual Water Conference

New Mexico state hosted the 70th New Mexico Annual Water Conference from October 21-23, 2025 at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces, NM and online. This year’s conference theme was “Research With Impact.”

Read Conference Agenda

A3: New Mexico Supports Local Utilities with an Integrated Innovative Leak Detection Program

New Mexico’s innovative work in leak detection and water conservation featured in the September/October 2025 issue of Rocky Mountain Water (pages 14 & 15).

Read Article

A4: Nichols Dam Rehabilitation Project

Learn More

A1: Develop a water education campaign

Develop and implement New Mexico’s Water Education Template (“WET”), a statewide water education campaign, to inform all New Mexicans about the source of their water, what is at stake due to reduced supplies in future years, and how each individual can do their part to conserve.

A1: The ROI Goal

By 2040, decrease water consumption in rural and municipal communities by 10% through the combination of water education, water planning, and local incentives for water conservation at homes and businesses.

A1: Progress

A1: Water Education Timeline

Fall 2024

Develop Main Stream New Mexico to provide information to the public about water conservation and regional water planning

Spring 2026

Finalize report regarding water education capacity in public schools. Finalize rules relating to implementation of the Water Security Planning Act. Initiate survey regarding public understanding of water conservation.

2040

Decrease water consumption in rural and municipal communities by 10%.

Progress on the conservation and public education goals outlined in A1 can be tracked across four major initiatives.

General Public Education

Public School Education – K-12

Water Workforce Department

Regional Water Planning

Over 3.8M views

on Main Stream New Mexico Water Facts public education videos

Expanding Participation

in the Water & Wastewater Systems Operation Specialist Apprenticeship Program

General public education efforts contributing to A1 goals include:

Development of Main Stream New Mexico - a public education and conservation campaign from the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Water Planning Bureau.
New Mexico Tech’s Water Leaders Program
NMSU Water Resources Research Institute conference - 2025 marked the 70th annual conference
Implementation of New Mexico's Water Data Act

Explore the Water Facts video series to learn more about water in New Mexico.

Explore New Mexico Water Data

View rulemaking timeline and progress for New Mexico regional water planning.

A2: Incentivize agricultural water conservation

Develop tools and policy incentives to expand water conservation and resilience in the agricultural sector through initiatives that increase producers’ voluntary adoption of high-efficiency irrigation technology (e.g., soil moisture sensors, remote controlled equipment, and application of satellite-based evapotranspiration data) and drought resilient, low water-demand crops.

A2: The ROI Goal

By supporting producers to adapt farming and ranching to a future with less freshwater, decrease water use in the agricultural sector statewide by 10% by 2035 and 20% by 2050 while maintaining economic viability and protecting ecosystem services that benefit from crop irrigation.

A2: Progress

A2: Agricultural Water Conservation Timeline

2025

The NM WRRI Agricultural Water Resilience Program (AgWRP) received a $5M appropriation for FY26

July 2025

61 project applications submitted for agricultural water conservation projects across New Mexico

November 2025

41 projects funded for FY26

January 2026

$10 million to continue conservation programs

2035

Conserve water use in the agricultural sector statewide by 10%

2050

Conserve water use in the agricultural sector statewide by 20%

NM WRRI Agricultural Water Resilience Program (AgWRP)
The NM WRRI Agricultural Water Resilience Program (AgWRP) implements Action A2 to incentivize agricultural water conservation, part of the New Mexico 50-Year Water Action Plan. AgWRP was funded for FY26 by the NM Legislature to “improve farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to manage, save, and efficiently apply limited water resources for agricultural production”.

Learn More

NM WRRI Program Appropriation
A total FY26 budget of $5M

$4.5M for on-the-ground projects with a maximum of $250K per project
$500,000 for program implementation and water impact assessment

A total FY27 budget of $10M

About The New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NM WRRI)
The New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute, established at New Mexico State University in 1963, funds student and faculty research conducted to address water problems critical to New Mexico and the Southwest. NM WRRI also participates in joint efforts to solve water-related problems along the U.S./Mexico border.

Learn More

61 applications

submitted by July 28, 2025 deadline

41 projects funded

for FY26

938,032,591 gallons

of projected annual water savings across all funded projects

457,501 acres

involved in FY26 water conservation projects

Major Agricultural Water Resilience Approaches

Addressed by FY26 Project Submissions

Gates, Distribution, and Delivery Systems

Infrastructure upgrades for water control and efficient delivery (automated gates, gated pipes and headgates, etc.)

Shade Ball and Tanks

Evaporation reduction (tanks with shade balls, etc.)

Modern Irrigation

Precision irrigation systems for improved efficiency, drip system, etc.

Acequia & Watershed Restoration

Restoration of traditional canals and watershed areas.

Solar Pumps and Systems

Others

Miscellaneous projects (drone spraying for invasive species control, filtration system, etc.)

Learn more about the NM WRRI Agricultural Water Resilience Program (AgWRP).

View a complete list of funded AgWRP projects for FY26.

A3: Reduce leaks in drinking water infrastructure and increase municipal conservation

Build and repair resilient public drinking water infrastructure to address water loss, thereby ensuring a greater volume of water is conserved and that safe and affordable drinking water is available in all communities. Today, some drinking water systems in New Mexico are losing 40-70% of all treated drinking water due to breaks and leaks throughout aging infrastructure, such as underground distribution pipes. Many of these problems stem from chronic underinvestment in the infrastructure and water workforce that communities rely upon for clean drinking water.

A3: The ROI Goal

Decrease statewide water loss from public drinking water infrastructure by 25% by 2040 through routine and targeted projects to repair and replace failing and leaking pipes, pumps, hydrants and other facility components, saving municipalities and ratepayers millions of dollars while saving water.

A3: Progress

A3: Municipal Leak Detection Timeline

2024

New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), Google Public Sector, and Woolpert Digital Innovations announced Hydro Delta, a new initiative that leverages satellites and artificial intelligence to identify water leaks, often located underground.

2025

LeakTrace program pilot in 5 New Mexico communities confirmed 82 leaks in over 1,000 miles of pipes, with recoverable water savings of over 127 million gallons or 390 acre feet annually.

October 2025

NMED executed a $4M contract with ASTERRA to provide statewide access to LeakTrace tools.

July 2026

Over 150 local utilities invited to participate, with 43 signed up for program so far.

2040

Decrease statewide water loss from public drinking water infrastructure by 25%

NMED's LeakTracer program's goal is to identify potable water supply leaks for over 650 small and rural public water utilities in the state by the end of the 4 year contract with Asterra. Once a leak is found, NMED's Rural Infrastructure Program is providing funding to utilities for repairs. To date, NMED has identified leaks totalling 289 million gallons per year.

During the first twelve months of the program, NMED provided leak detection services to small rural communities across the state. ASTERRA captured 20 satellite images to identify likely leak locations. NMED reached out to the over 150 utilities where areas of interest were identified; 43 have responded and signed up for the program. Thus far, NMED's contractor has physically inspected 20 utility service areas for leaks using the data collected by the satellite images and found 170 leaks. The leak loss rates are estimated to total approximately 550 gallons per minute. This equates to 792,000 gallons per day or 289 million gallons per year of water loss reduction when all leaks are repaired. Based on an average cost of water production, this equates to a net savings of $446,000 to these agencies. If this loss-recovered water was sold, the additional revenue to the affected utilities would be almost $2.7 million.

170 leaks

identified across 20 utility service areas

289 millions gallons

of recoverable water savings identified

Did you know?

The 2020 New Mexico Water Use By Categories Report estimates that public water use accounts for 7.88% of the state’s total water withdrawals of 299,803 acre feet.

Learn more about the Hydro Delta leak tracking initiative in this video.

In some New Mexican water systems, 40% to 70% of treated water is lost from leaks, primarily due to aging infrastructure.

A4: Improve water storage and delivery systems

Prioritize water management infrastructure improvements (e.g., dams and reservoirs) and operational efficiencies to meet future demands by developing agreements for flexible management options, continuing progress on completion of Indian Water Rights Settlements, repairing aging infrastructure (e.g., in tribal and acequia communities) and addressing critically important dam safety improvements, while ensuring that environmental flows and compliance will be part of our solutions. Seek and apply federal resources and funding to assist in the completion of many urgent infrastructure projects.

A4: The ROI Goal

By 2040, improve system-wide efficiency by 20% and develop additional infrastructure to meet future water supply needs for our communities.

A4: Progress

A4: System Conservation Timeline

2025

Conserve over 12,000 acre-feet of water in the Lower Rio Grande Basin. Celebrated dam rehabilitation completion at Nichols Dam in Santa Fe.

2026

Receive over $22 million to continue efforts to conserve groundwater and implement the TX v NM Settlement.

2040

Improve system-wide efficiency by 20%.

Through a cooperative agreement with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) on bosque management and vegetation removal, the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) has initiated a $5M funding agreement. To date, ~$3M has been expended.

In FY26, approximately 300 acres of bosque were treated, which included:

clearing of dead and downed trees in areas burned by fire
thinning and removal of salt cedar and non-native vegetation
conversion to open grasses
re-treatment of previously cleared areas

ISC funding also enabled MRGCD to purchase specialized heavy equipment needed for vegetation removal. These efforts significantly reduce wildfire risks while enhancing the ability for emergency responders to access the bosque, when fires do occur. Invasive species removal also allows for the return of a mosaic of native grasses, trees, and shrubs, which increases the resiliency of the bosque ecosystem.

The funding also provided for the hiring and training of the next generation of conservation practitioners through the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps to support vegetation management and monitoring activities. Finally, ISC funding has provided MRGCD leverage for $1M in State Forestry funding for large-scale fire mitigation and treatment projects.

The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (ISC), Reclamation, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD), and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), work in partnership on a conservation program that includes fallowing of farmlands and implementation of conservation actions that generate water savings to be used for species’ benefits.

In FY27, several water sources and types of fallowing are included in the program, resulting in 2,979 equivalent acres enrolled. Through July 2026, this has resulted in 2,423 acre feet of water generated for use and 1,377 acre feet used to support habitat for fish and wildlife at several sites along the river.

The Los Lunas Silvery Minnow Refugium (LLSMR or Refugium) is operated to support propagation of the endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow. The Refugium operations include spawning, egg collection from the river, hatching, and the grow out of fish for eventual release to the river.

In FY27, approximately 40,000 minnows are on station at the refugium as of July, the majority of which will be released to the river in the fall of 2026 and some of which will be retained for future spawning.

The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission's (ISC) Middle Rio Grande Bureau is coordinating with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on several projects in the basin to improve water and sediment conveyance. Notable projects in FY27 include:

Funding from Reclamation for a Rio Chama watershed evaluation of:

the risks from the impacts from wildfire and monsoon/flood events to the increasingly erosive and degraded watershed based on existing data and models for the area
methods to enable water to move through the system at a range of flows – from high flow monsoon/flood events to low flows during lower water supply conditions.

The assessment will be coordinated with key agencies and stakeholders. ISC expects to enter into a contract for the assessment in FY27.

Development of a long-term pre- and post-construction monitoring and maintenance program with Reclamation and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District for major projects. By coordinating and leveraging resources, this will reduce duplicative efforts and ensure that areas of the river key to major projects have adequate monitoring coverage.

Coordination with Reclamation on a large channel improvement project at RM 161 in Los Lunas to widen the channel through the removal of several islands and bars that have formed in the channel. ISC expects to enter into a contract in FY27 for the environmental compliance required by the National Environmental Policy Act.

Coordination on a major river channel realignment in the Elephant Butte delta that will improve water and sediment conveyance and reduce depletions caused by evapotranspiration from ponding and slow-moving water. ISC and Reclamation are partnering on the alignment path, preliminary design, and the sediment conveyance analysis in FY27.

Habitat restoration of several site in the Albuquerque Reach, which includes the removal or destabilization of islands and bars for sediment management and channel widening and removal of invasive vegetation. FY27 activities include construction of projects that can be funded in full by the Water Trust Board.

Recent actions in the Lower Rio Grande provide a great example of efforts to improve system efficiencies to meet water conservation goals.

Distribution Efficiency, Stormwater Management and Aquifer Recharge – The OSE/ISC is working with Elephant Butte Irrigation District to increase system efficiencies. Identifying opportunities for stormwater capture and managed aquifer recharge.
- $13 million will support infrastructure improvements with the potential to capture thousands of acre-feet per year
Brackish Water Development – Investigating viability of brackish water development opportunities.
- $6 million will support exploratory wells in Doña Ana County
Groundwater Conservation – Collective efforts to reduce groundwater pumping through short-term voluntary leases:

12,000 to 16,000 acre-feet conserved in 2025

16,000 to 20,000 acre-feet per year enrolled for 2026 through 2028

Development of a water rights purchase program to ensure long-term solution.

Nichols Dam, Santa Fe County – Complete (2025)
McClure Dam, Santa Fe County – Under investigation and design
Santa Cruz Site 1 Dam, Rio Arriba County – Under design (NRCS)
Power Lake Dam, Guadalupe County – In construction
Bear Canyon Dam, Grant County – Construction on hold (high bid)
Peterson Dam, San Miguel County – In design
Cimarroncito Dam, Colfax County – Under design
Alto Lake Dam, Lincoln County – In planning
Zuber Draw Sites 1 & 2 Dams, Chaves County – Under design (NRCS)

Litigated Claims

Mescalero Apache in the Rio Hondo/Pecos River Stream System (State ex rel. Reynolds v. Lewis, 116 N.M. 194 (Ct. App. 1993))

Finalized & Funded Water Rights Settlements

Jicarilla Apache in the San Juan River Basin & the Rio Chama Stream System
Navajo Nation in the San Juan River Basin
The four Pueblos of Nambé, Pojoaque, Tesuque, and San Ildefonso in the Rio Pojoaque Basin adjudication
Taos Pueblo in the Rio Pueblo de Taos/Rio Hondo Stream System adjudication

Local Settlements Seeking Congressional Confirmation

Acoma and Laguna in the Rio San José Stream System
Jemez and Zia in the Rio Jemez Stream System
Ohkay Owingeh in the Rio Chama Stream System
Navajo Nation in the Rio San José Stream System
Zuni Indian Tribe in the Zuni River Stream System, and Zuni Salt Lake Protection
Amendment to Taos Pueblo-Abeyta Settlement Act for Supplemental Funding

Settlements Currently Under Negotiation

Santa Clara Pueblo & Ohkay Owingeh in the Santa Cruz/Truchas Stream Systems
Navajo Nation in the Zuni River Basin
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in the San Juan River Basin
The Six Pueblos of Sandia, Santa Ana, Isleta, Santo Domingo (Kewa), Cochiti, and San Felipe in the Middle Rio Grande Stream System

Immediate Next Steps

Putting The Plan Into Action

A1: Public Education Campaign

A2: Incentivize
Agricultural Conservation

A3: Reduce leaks and increase municipal conservation

A4: Improve water storage and delivery

State agencies are coordinating to deliver public education resources to classrooms through STEM education standards and are developing additional water-specific programs for schools. Expanded partnerships with Project WET and other programs will reach more students in future years.

The Public Education Department completed its review of potential water education elements to add to New Mexico public school programs in response to SM 1 (2025)

In 2025 and 2026, the Interstate Stream Commission finalized the rulemaking process and began implementation of the Water Security Planning Act. The Water Security Tribal Advisory Committee successfully informed the rulemaking process and will continue to provide valuable input toward Water Security Planning Act implementation. Coordination efforts continue among state and local agencies to increase water efficiency and reduce water use throughout the state.

Advocacy for increased funding for agricultural water conservation in New Mexio has resulted in over $50 million in investments to support agricultural resiliency programs:

Federal funding for ISC/ Rio Grande work
Funding for acequia programs
MRGCD conservation program
Implementation of NM WRRI's Agricultural Water Resilience Program
NMDA implementation of Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund programs, including Healthy Soil Program

In the last two years, the state has invested in efforts to increase river channel efficiencies, implement water conservation initiatives, and develop new water supplies. The state is partnering with entities in the Lower Rio Grande, Middle Rio Grande and federal agencies to prioritize conservation and system efficiencies in the Rio Grande Basin. We are also making progress in Eastern New Mexico’s Water Utility Authority Pipeline and infrastructure improvements at Ute Dam to bring clean, reliable water to communities in Eastern New Mexico who are faced with diminishing groundwater supplies. In Northwest New Mexico, we are working with the Navajo Nation and local communities and federal agencies to continue work on construction of the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Pipeline.

A1: Public Education Campaign

The Public Education Department completed its review of potential water education elements to add to New Mexico public school programs in response to SM 1 (2025)

A2: Incentivize Agricultural Conservation

Advocacy for increased funding for agricultural water conservation in New Mexio has resulted in over $50 million in investments to support agricultural resiliency programs:

Federal funding for ISC/ Rio Grande work
Funding for acequia programs
MRGCD conservation program
Implementation of NM WRRI's Agricultural Water Resilience Program
NMDA implementation of Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund programs, including Healthy Soil Program

A3: Reduce leaks and increase municipal conservation

A4: Improve water storage and delivery