The board shall:

1. A. adopt rules governing terms and conditions of grants or loans recommended by the board for appropriation by the legislature from the water project fund, giving priority to projects pursuant to Section 1 [72-4A-7.1 NMSA 1978] of this 2026 act;

2. B. authorize qualifying water projects to the authority that are for:

   1. (1) storage, conveyance or delivery of water to end users;
   2. (2) implementation of federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 collaborative programs;
   3. (3) wastewater conveyance and treatment;
   4. (4) restoration and management of watersheds;
   5. (5) flood prevention; or
   6. (6) water conservation or recycling, treatment or reuse of water as provided by law; and
3. C. evaluate projects, including their environmental impacts, and recommend projects to the interstate stream commission pursuant to the provisions of Section 72-14-45 NMSA 1978.

History: Laws 2001, ch. 164, § 5; 2003, ch. 139, § 3; 2003, ch. 365, § 1; 2011, ch. 64, § 3; 2021, ch. 64, § 2; 2024, ch. 9, § 1; 2026, ch. 27, § 2.

ANNOTATIONS

Cross references. — For the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, see 16 U.S.C.S. § 1531 et seq.

The 2026 amendment, effective May 20, 2026, revised the duties of the water trust board related to prioritizing water projects; in Subsection A, after "giving priority to projects," deleted "that have been identified by the board as being urgent to address public health and safety issues; that have matching contributions from federal or local funding sources available; and that have obtained all requisite state and federal permits and authorizations necessary to initiate the project" and added "pursuant to Section 1 of this 2026 act".

The 2024 amendment, effective May 15, 2024, revised the duties of the water trust board; in Subsection A, after "identified" added "by the board", and after "being urgent to" deleted "meet the needs of a regional water planning area that has a completed regional water plan that has been accepted by the interstate stream commission" and added "address public health and safety issues"; in Subsection B, added a new Paragraph B(3) and redesignated former Paragraphs B(3) through B(5) as Paragraphs B(4) through B(6), respectively; deleted former Subsection C, which required the board to create a drought strike team to coordinate responses to emergency water shortages caused by drought conditions; and redesignated former Subsection D as Subsection C.

The 2021 amendment, effective June 18, 2021, added Subsection D.

The 2011 amendment, effective June 17, 2011, made stylistic changes.

The 2003 amendment, effective June 20, 2003, added Paragraph B(5) and Subsection C.