NMSA 1978, § 75-2-1 Short title
75-2-1. Short title
This act [75-2-1 to 75-2-5 NMSA 1978] may be cited as the "Water Research, Conservation and Development Act".
1953 Comp., § 75-42-1, enacted by Laws 1975, ch. 265, § 1.
Water Research, Conservation and Development
NMSA 1978 ch. 75, art. 2
in effectNMSA 1978, § 75-2-2 Purpose
75-2-2. Purpose
It is the purpose of the Water Research, Conservation and Development Act to provide means to seek solutions to water shortage, conservation and utilization problems through research, conservation or development projects for the benefit of the citizens of New Mexico.
1953 Comp., § 75-42-2, enacted by Laws 1975, ch. 265, § 2.
NMSA 1978, § 75-2-3 Special fund created
75-2-3. Special fund created
There is created a special fund to be known as the "water research, conservation and development fund". All money appropriated to this fund or accruing to it through gifts, grants or bequests shall not be transferred to another fund or encumbered or disbursed in any manner except as provided in the Water Research, Conservation and Development Act. The fund shall not revert at the end of the fiscal year. Disbursements from the fund shall be made only upon warrant drawn by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of the interstate stream commission for research, conservation or development projects of merit and potential benefit to the state and approved by the interstate stream commission.
1953 Comp., § 75-42-3, enacted by Laws 1975, ch. 265, § 3; 1977, ch. 247, § 201; 1989, ch. 324, § 40.
NMSA 1978, § 75-2-4 Interstate stream commission; additional powers and duties
75-2-4. Interstate stream commission; additional powers and duties
In addition to its other powers and duties, the interstate stream commission shall:
A. meet upon the call of its chairman;
B. review and approve or deny water research, conservation or development project proposals submitted to the commission by institutions of higher learning, political subdivisions or other appropriate nonprofit research or development entities on the basis of potential merit, benefit to the state and feasibility;
C. adopt guidelines for project preparation, review, application and approval;
D. upon approval of a project, allocate available funds for such water research, conservation or development project, provided:
(1) no single project shall receive more than forty percent of the total available funds;
(2) no less than forty percent of the total available funds shall be allocated for conservation or development projects which have the potential of providing immediate solutions to problems facing the people of the state; and
(3) no funds appropriated to the water research, conservation and development fund shall be used for water distribution system construction, including, but not limited to, irrigation canals, acequias, reservoirs, dams or domestic or municipal water distribution systems;
E. adopt reporting and monitoring procedures for evaluation of research, conservation or development projects being conducted by recipients of disbursements under the Water Research, Conservation and Development Act, and, after making the appropriate evaluation of the project, make arrangements for termination of the project, if so indicated;
F. report annually to the governor and the legislature on the status of the various research, conservation or development projects, including a report on total funds expended under this act, including the amounts and sources of outside matching funds; and
G. expend no more than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) from the water research, conservation and development fund for the administrative purposes of the Water Research, Conservation and Development Act during any fiscal year.
1953 Comp., § 75-42-4, enacted by Laws 1975, ch. 265, § 4; 1977, ch. 205, § 1.
NMSA 1978, § 75-2-5 Acceptance of funds and donations
75-2-5. Acceptance of funds and donations
The interstate stream commission may accept for the purposes of the Water Research, Conservation and Development Act any federal matching funds or grants for water research, conservation or development projects and may accept similar donations and bequests from private sources for such projects.
1953 Comp., § 75-42-5, enacted by Laws 1975, ch. 265, § 5.
Source: New Mexico Compilation Commission (nmonesource.com)URL: https://nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa-unanno/en/item/18578/index.doFetched: 10/20/2026