What Has Happened So Far:
The first phase of implementing WSPA focused on public engagement. In 2024, NMISC collected feedback from more than 2,300 New Mexicans at a series of 16 in-person open house meetings across the state, including a virtual option. The public engagement process resulted in more than 25,000 individual feedback points which were organized, coded, analyzed and compiled into reports (available on mainstreamnm.org/data-and-reports/).
Along with the public engagement, NMISC coordinated with New Mexico Indian Affairs Department to form the Water Security Tribal Advisory Council (WSTAC). This group, required by WSPA, was formalized in late 2024 and has continued meeting through the current phase.
The public engagement reports, along with recommendations from WSTAC, informed the proposed regional boundaries as well as the Discussion Draft of the Rule and Guidelines, a document that provided New Mexicans a chance to comment before the official promulgation, or rule-making, process began.
NMISC received over 100 responses on the Discussion Draft Rule and Guidelines and took the time to read and consider all the feedback that was provided as part of this process. This resulted in numerous substantive and structural changes to the Proposed Rule to make it as informed and useful as possible going forward.
As part of the rulemaking process, NMISC accepted public comments for the official record and held a public hearing which concluded on Friday, Oct 17, 2025. The hearing brought together a broad range of voices from across the state — both in person and online — ensuring that perspectives from individuals and communities across New Mexico were entered into the official record, including tribal officials, acequia members, farmers, ranchers, rural water users, and environmental groups.
The commission will deliberate on the proposed rule at an upcoming regular or special public meeting. Once finalized, the rule will guide the formation of regional water security planning councils across New Mexico and advance the next phase of regional water planning as required by the Water Security Planning Act (WSPA). We will provide a date for that meeting here, once scheduled.
The first phase of implementing WSPA focused on public engagement. In 2024, NMISC collected feedback from more than 2,300 New Mexicans at a series of 16 in-person open house meetings across the state, including a virtual option. The public engagement process resulted in more than 25,000 individual feedback points which were organized, coded, analyzed and compiled into reports (available here).
Along with the public engagement, NMISC coordinated with New Mexico Indian Affairs Department to form the Water Security Tribal Advisory Council (WSTAC). This group, required by WSPA, was formalized in late 2024 and has continued meeting through the current phase.
The public engagement reports, along with recommendations from WSTAC, informed the proposed regional boundaries as well as the Discussion Draft of the Rule and Guidelines, a document that provided New Mexicans a chance to comment before the official promulgation, or rule-making, process began.
NMISC received over 100 responses on the Discussion Draft Rule and Guidelines and took the time to read and consider all the feedback that was provided as part of this process. This resulted in numerous substantive and structural changes to the Proposed Rule to make it as informed and useful as possible going forward.
As part of the rulemaking process, NMISC accepted public comments for the official record and held a public hearing which concluded on Friday, Oct 17, 2025. The hearing brought together a broad range of voices from across the state — both in person and online — ensuring that perspectives from individuals and communities across New Mexico were entered into the official record, including tribal officials, acequia members, farmers, ranchers, rural water users, and environmental groups.
The commission will deliberate on the proposed rule at an upcoming regular or special public meeting. Once finalized, the rule will guide the formation of regional water security planning councils across New Mexico and advance the next phase of regional water planning as required by the Water Security Planning Act (WSPA). We will provide a date for that meeting here, once scheduled.
