Democrats must act now to secure our water future. We must support equitable, evidence-based, water planning, management, and stewardship. New Mexico will equitably and effectively adapt to climate change and best sustain what we value: our diverse cultures, our people and economy, food production, and riverine and riparian ecosystems.

We Affirm

1. As Indigenous and traditional communities know and honor, El Agua es Vida, Water is Life; and

2. New Mexico is in a period of prolonged drought and the New Mexico Climate Report predicts there will be less snow mass, increasing temperature, and prolonged drought in the future; we must act now to help ensure our equitable survival; and

3. Water uses in many of New Mexico’s diverse river basin segments and aquifer systems are not sustainable now and supplies will be further diminished by 25% or more by 2070 because of climate change; and 

4. The recreational value of our state’s lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water, and the ecotourism dollars they create; and

5. That there is a discrepancy between paper and wet water rights and how it disproportionately affects rural and traditional farmers while favoring large corporations and entities; and

6. New Mexico’s de facto system of sharing shortages in most locations is unfair and inequitable; and

7. Water governance in New Mexico is inadequate and has been neglected for too long and, if not improved, will deprive New Mexico’s future generations, ecosystems, and marginalized communities of water; and

8. New Mexico’s water resources agencies require inspired leadership, restored staffing and funding, qualified staff, modern computer and data systems, the capacity to defend New Mexico in high-stakes litigation with Texas, and the resources to focus on other crucial water issues; and

9. Improved state, regional, and local water planning and management are essential to New Mexico’s future; and

10. Water use reductions and infrastructure improvements are required to secure the long-term viability of New Mexico’s water supplies and essential water uses.

We Will

1. Respectfully demand that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham fully implement her October 2018 water policy platform Managing and Conserving our Water to Preserve our Culture, Communities and Future Generations of New Mexicans; and

2. Support the creation of a new billion-dollar state water resilience fund for planning, project development, and implementation of projects identified by approved state, regional, tribal, and community water plans prepared with scientific integrity;  to include funding the implementation and enforcement of existing legislation and regulation pertaining to water; and

3. Urge state water officials to maximize federal matching funds for community, regional, and state water projects; and

4. Organize our communities to face our changing climate and participate in water decision-making, including the prohibition of the exportation of water out of our state, except to fulfill our existing compacts and other legal obligations; and

5. Demand adequate funding to manage New Mexico’s water as the scarce resource that it is; and

6. Demand legislation to require that paper water rights be quantified before buying, selling, or using the wet water rights; and

7. Support the requirement that proposed subdivisions demonstrate that they have adequate aquifer water supply for their residents; and

8. Support legislation to establish and fund a framework for New Mexicans to collaboratively decide appropriate and acceptable uses of water and also support changes in laws and policies that allocate water accordingly; and

9. Support the implementation of an expedited and robust program of evidence-based regional and community water planning and other community input,  in each of the diverse hydrologic regions of New Mexico; and

10. Support adding staff and funding to the New Mexico Environment Department, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, New Mexico Office of the State Engineer/Interstate Stream Commission to fully implement the 2019 New Mexico Water Data Act; and

11. Support legislation to substantially improve water resources investigations and data collection by state and federal science agencies for water planning and governance; and

12. Demand priority administration (senior water rights over junior water rights usage) or an equivalent shortage-sharing agreement for hydrologic regions of New Mexico where water uses exceed the sustainable water supply; and

13. Demand New Mexico deliver water in compliance with the Rio Grande Compact through the Middle Rio Grande for use below Elephant Butte Dam; and

14. Require the continuity and vitality of New Mexico’s diverse cultures, particularly protecting our agricultural heritage through thoughtful reform of New Mexico’s water laws and governance policies; and

15. Support the creation of a New Mexico Water Resources Department with a diverse, qualified staff and a cabinet secretary who need not be a licensed engineer; and 

16. Request a cabinet-level Secretary of Water responsible for coordinating among all departments and agencies dealing with water; and to investigate the potential impact of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency that narrows the scope of waters protected by the Clean Water Act; and

17. Support the creation of a state-funded Water Ombudsperson for New Mexico on matters such as senior and junior water rights, paper and wet water rights, the allocation of water during periods of scarcity, and the effect of the Sackett decision on clean water in NM; and

18. Support efforts to prevent and mitigate damage to and exploitation of our aquifers, such as fracking and the commercial bottling of water; and

19. Support the New Mexico Departments of Game and Fish and Outdoor Recreation in providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and responsible use of our lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water; and

20. Support implementation of integrated water resources management, including water quality and quantity; and

21. Demand compliance with the State-Tribal Collaboration Act so that state cabinet agencies diligently seek collaboration with tribal governments and give full consideration to their water management strategies, policies, and concerns; and

22. Support water management strategies that encompass Indigenous perspectives and science; and

23. Demand legislation to protect and defend the rights of traditional communities to safeguard their water rights, and remedy the lack of resources for those communities; and 

24. Demand that water allocations provide water for rivers, riparian habitat, and ecological services; and

25. Support the creation of flood control authorities to help mitigate devastating flooding from climate change; and

26. Respect the cultural heritage and historical use of acequias and other traditional irrigation practices; and

27. Support training and educational opportunities for our youth on water, including traditional knowledge.