New Report Outlines Innovative Water Funding Mechanisms
New Mexico’s water supply and river flow crisis requires sustainable funding
SANTA FE – Today, July 8, Conservation Voters New Mexico Education Fund announced the release of a new report: Funding To Protect, Promote & Enhance New Mexico’s Water Resources, which looks at innovative methods to fund water projects and management in New Mexico. The report discusses potential new sources of funding for water programs and projects, including creating a state water fund sufficient to provide some or all of the required non-federal match for critical federal water investments.
“We have known for a long time that New Mexico has a serious and growing water management crisis,” said Conservation Voters New Mexico Education Fund Conservation Director, Zoe Barker. “Water management agencies are chronically underfunded. Water projects often receive insufficient, non-recurring, which stalls projects that often require multiple years to design and implement. There were similar problems in dealing with conservation projects across multiple agencies over multiple years that a sustained funding mechanism like the LOE solved. New Mexico now needs to be creative and proactive in ensuring that we have the best possible strategies, agency staff, and program and project funding to build a water future that sustains our state’s waters for drinking, agriculture, cultural uses, businesses and wildlife. This report provides a solid foundation for the necessary conversations to resolve this critical problem now, while there is time and surplus resources available.”
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BACKGROUND
The annual State of the Rockies “Conservation in the West” polling report from Colorado College, which has been conducting the poll for the last 15 years, shows overwhelming, and necessarily bipartisan, public concern about the state of our waters in New Mexico:
- 91% say that inadequate water supply is a serious problem; 73% say it’s an extremely or very serious problem;
- 94% say that the low levels in rivers and streams is a serious problem; 74% say it’s extremely or very serious problem;
- 90% say that pollution is a serious problem; 68 % say it is extremely or very serious. Among different demographic groups, 90% of Latine respondents said pollution was a serious problem and 95% of Gen Z respondents said it was a serious problem.
From the new funding report:
“The work of estimating the amount of funding needed, in one-time costs as well as in new and recurring appropriations, is both difficult and essential. An August 2024 Legislative Finance Committee Policy Spotlight on drinking and wastewater projects cited a need to invest $5.7 billion in water infrastructure for smaller communities from FY25 through FY29. This estimate does not include other key recurring and non-recurring funding needs, including resources to ensure river, aquifer and watershed health; to guarantee the appropriate management of water resources; to create public awareness programs; and to conduct research and invest in technology, to name a few key areas.” (p5)
“The 50-Year Water Action Plan outlines programs addressing water conservation, new water supplies and water and watershed protection. The Water Policy and Infrastructure Task Force identified recommendations in three broad categories: 1. Community drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure capacity and financing; 2. Water resources management and planning; and 3. River, aquifer, and watershed health. While the two reports contain much overlap, there are also unique needs identified in each, notably the Governor’s inclusion of funding for new water supply. If a Water Fund were to be established, an inventory of eligible projects and programs would need to be conducted and criteria for funding selection would need to be established. As other states have begun to promote water security through bold investments, priority focus areas have emerged for where to expend funds.” (p7)
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CVNMEF is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization connecting the people of New Mexico to their political power to protect our air, land, water, wildlife and communities for a healthy Land of Enchantment. CVNMEF does this by mobilizing people to advocate on policy, enhancing the voting process, encouraging people to vote, cultivating conservation leaders and amplifying the voices of those most affected.