If approved, the Public Lands Investment & Recovery Package would expand affordable access to public lands and provide state matching dollars to help communities recover economically from natural disasters. It’s a win-win: growing our outdoor recreation economy while supporting voluntary, locally led recovery solutions in a uniquely New Mexican way. This $70 million package would preserve our natural heritage, protect our communities, and provide more affordable ways for New Mexicans to enjoy the outdoors.
Also awaiting the governor’s signature are some of the strongest funding levels for the rivers and water in recent memory, providing historic levels of support for river restoration, protection, and management. With an expected 25% reduction in streamflow in New Mexico’s rivers over the next 50 years, investing in our waters is more important than ever.
Among other allocations for water protections, this year’s budget includes $13 million in funding for the Strategic Water Reserve — a critical tool to protect our rivers. The Reserve was created 20 years ago to keep water in New Mexico’s rivers by allowing the state to buy, lease, or accept donated water. But without this new funding, the Reserve will be out of money by 2027.
Tell Governor Lujan Grisham to protect our state’s land and water resources and approve the budget.
WRA's Letter of Support to Governor Lujan Grisham
Dear Governor Lujan Grisham,
I am reaching out today to ask you to sign all elements of House Bill 2 as approved by the New Mexico Legislature. HB2 has several key sources of funding for New Mexico’s lands and waters that are critical to the well-being of our state.
Funding to the Office of the Natural Resources Trustee for the Public Lands Investment & Recovery Package ($70 million) would expand affordable access to public lands and provide state matching dollars to help communities recover economically from natural disasters. It’s a win-win: growing our outdoor recreation economy while supporting voluntary, locally led recovery solutions in a uniquely New Mexican way. This package would preserve our natural heritage, protect our communities and provide more affordable ways for New Mexicans to enjoy the outdoors.
When it comes to the rivers and waters of New Mexico, HB2 includes some of the strongest funding levels in recent memory, providing historic levels of support for river restoration, protection, and management. This includes funding for the Strategic Water Reserve — a critical tool to protect our rivers. The Reserve was created 20 years ago to keep water in New Mexico’s rivers by allowing the state to buy, lease, or accept donated water. The $13 million allocated in this budget represents the largest appropriation to the Reserve in its history and will protect the health of our rivers and wildlife, support outdoor recreation, help deliver water to our farms and communities, and sustain cultural and religious uses of water.
Signing HB2 protects our lands, waters, and communities.
Thank you.
