October 7, 2025
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Dear Acequia Community,

From October 15–17, the Interstate Stream Commission will hold a public hearing on new rules for the Water Security Planning Act.
This law sets up how New Mexico will plan for its water future — deciding the regions for planning and which projects will rise to the top. These decisions will affect how communities like ours care for our water, our acequias, and future generations.

This is a chance for community voices to shape the rules before they’re finalized. By sharing your perspective, you help make sure that local knowledge and values guide how water is planned and managed in our state. See our suggested comments below!

 

Why This Matters

  • The rule will set up the process for regional water planning in the state and we need to make sure acequia representation makes it into the rule.
  • These plans will create a prioritized list of water projects to be funded and we want acequia projects to be included during the planning process. 
  • We need to create equitable rules so that rural and acequia water needs are met in the planning process.
 

Hearing Information

What: Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) – Proposed Rule for the Water Security Planning Act

When: Public comment will be held at the following times 

  • Wednesday, October 15 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) and again at 4:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, October 16 at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
  • Friday, October 17 at 9:00 a.m.

Where: Auditorium of the Willie Ortiz Building, 2600 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 or via Zoom

Note:  If you wish to schedule an official public commenting timeslot during the meeting, please contact to Jennifer.Salazar@ose.nm.gov. Provide her with your name, affiliation, and the date, approximate time frame, and amount of time requested for making the comment.

 
Virtual Attendance Information

No pre-registration is required to join the webinar, simply click on the links below. if you join the Zoom Webinar ahead of the start of the Hearing you will be placed in a waiting room until the Hearing begins. Virtual attendees will not have permission to speak outside of windows designated for public comment.

 
October 15th

Start Time: 9:00 am

CLICK HERE TO JOIN ZOOM
 
October 16th

Start Time: 1:00 pm

CLICK HERE TO JOIN ZOOM
 
October 17th

Start Time: 9:00 am

CLICK HERE TO JOIN ZOOM
 

How to Speak Up

The Commission will take a limited number of public comments. If you speak, you might say:

“My name is _______ and I am a parciante/commissioner/mayordomo of (name your acequia or your regional acequia association). I generally support the proposed rule for the Water Security Planning Act but the rules need to include the following in order to have acequia and rural voices heard: 

You can add:

  • The rules need to include language to create the Acequia and Rural Water Security Advisory Working Group. This group will be composed of rural representatives who are from acequias, land grant-mercedes, and mutual domestics. This group will be a statewide forum that will provide input to ensure that rural water rights, water needs, and viewpoints are considered and incorporated into each regions’ plan and related activities.
  • The rules need to have the nine ISC planning regions overlap and/or be contained within the Councils of Governments (COGs) regions. This will ensure that there are overlapping technical assistance services, such as free grant writing, planning, and project implementation services. This will improve the capacity available to implement the plans. 
  • Throughout the rules we need more language that allows the public more opportunities for community engagement, input, and chances to participate.
  • If you have time and want to support mutual domestics: Lastly, We support including one member from a mutual domestic water consumers association and a community regional water system in the region as a representative voting member in the rule and in accordance with the Regional Water System Resiliency Act.

Thank the commission for their time and opportunity to speak. 

 

Let’s fill the hearing room and Zoom call with defenders of New Mexico’s water. Together, we can keep toxic wastewater out of the waters that nourish our people, land, and future generations

In solidarity,

The New Mexico Acequia Association

www.lasacequias.org

(505) 995-9644

New Mexico Acequia Association

505 Don Gaspar Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87505


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