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New Mexico Water Plans

New Mexico Water Plans. Presented by Angela Schackel Bordegaray State & Regional Water Planner For the Water Cabinet January 14, 2009 Santa Fe, New Mexico. State Water Plan (NMSA 72-14-3.1). SWP Purpose. Become strategic management tool for the purposes of:

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New Mexico Water Plans

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  1. New Mexico Water Plans Presented by Angela Schackel Bordegaray State & Regional Water Planner For the Water Cabinet January 14, 2009 Santa Fe, New Mexico

  2. StateWater Plan (NMSA 72-14-3.1)

  3. SWP Purpose • Become strategic management tool for the purposes of: • Promoting stewardship of the state’s water resources • Protect and maintain water rights and their priority status • Protect diverse customs, culture, environment and economic stability of state • Protect both water supply and water quality

  4. SWP Purpose con’t. • Promote cooperative strategies, based on meeting the basic needs of all New Mexicans • Meeting the state’s interstate compact obligations • Providing a basis for prioritizing infrastructure investment • Providing statewide continuity of policy and management relative to our water resources.

  5. Why Plan? • Less expensive than reacting (e.g. the Pecos River Settlement) • An avenue for public input on water management policies • Allows for integration of water quality (NMED) with water management • Minimizes litigation • Process for protecting water availability, improving efficiency, and prioritizing infrastructure funding

  6. ISC Directive • “Shall develop a comprehensive, coordinated state water plan that shall…”

  7. SWP Accomplishments • Established a set of goals for the state • Brought together considerable amount of data • Serves as an excellent tool for educating the public about water issues • Provides a framework for implementation of key actions required to meet the goals

  8. Changed Conditions since 2003 • Population Growth • Climate Change • Unregulated development of deep saline aquifers • New proposed inter-basin transfers of water pipelines • Aging infrastructure

  9. Changed Conditions since 2003 • Initiated efforts to acquire water for environmental stream flows • State and Federal listings of aquatic species have increased • Resurgence of uranium mining • Interest in reuse of produced water from oil and gas development increasing • Legal changes via new & changed water laws and Court Decisions

  10. Water Planning Milestones 2008 • Conducted comprehensive review of SWP • Conducted statewide by region population estimates and projections (UNM_BBER) • All 16 ISC-water planning regions completed plans • Increased public awareness of SWP

  11. Water Planning Resources • Funding • Regional water plans • State Water Plan • Staffing

  12. Current Water Planning Activities • State Water Plan Update in 2009-2010 • Synthesis of Regional Water Plans • Extensive Public Involvement Regional and Statewide meetings • Publish Ongoing - “Rolling Updates” • Maps, Glossary, Removable pages

  13. How NM Compares • Texas - $21 million for water planning; $15 million for its State Water Plan • Colorado - $1 million annually for its Compact Committee Support and Basin-Wide Needs Assessment; allocates $10 million for water supply funding • Wyoming and Utah each employ five planning staff and annually fund their planning programs $300,000 and $500,000, respectively

  14. Results of an Updated SWP • A guide for implementing defined strategies for effective water management in future • Whether this final report is one of substance -- or whether it reflects little or no public input and contains very little usable information – depends on funding and collaboration for these efforts

  15. New Mexico Water Planning Regions Source: Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.

  16. ISC Regional Water Planning Program • Started in 1987 (72-14-43 and 44) • Not well-funded when initiated • Guidance provided in 1994 “Regional Water Planning Handbook” • Increased funding levels 1999-2006 led to completion of water plans

  17. ISC Regional Water Planning Program • Not the same as “40-year water plans” (72-1-9) • Separate from efforts related to “regionalization” of drinking water systems • All Regional Water Plans available on OSE/ISC Website: www.ose.state.nm.us (go to “ISC” then “Planning Division” then click on “Regional Water Plans”)

  18. RegionalWater Plans • Provide technical assessment of surface water and groundwater resources • Highlight drought vulnerability in areas relying on surface water • Provide projections of future population growth and water demand • Discuss alternatives or strategies for meeting future needs within the region • Have no authority to change laws or water rights

  19. ISC Regional Water Planning Program • a mechanism for ongoing communication among stakeholders and the state’s water managers within each region • technical information on supply and demand from regional water plans can potentially contribute to the State Water Planning efforts

  20. Conclusions • Integration of regional water plans into state water plans is a challenge. • Linking water funding to water plans promotes implementation. • State authority to mandate water supply development options encourages regions to collaborate on mutually beneficial solutions to competing water demands.

  21. The End

  22. www.ose.state.nm.us Angela Bordegaray 827-6167 Angela.Bordegaray@state.nm.us

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