Interstate Stream Commission

Lower Rio Grande (LRG)
Groundwater Conservation Program

About the LRG Groundwater Conservation Program

The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (NMISC) is expanding on the success of its LRGGCP and will be accepting new grant applications for a twelve (12) month grant term starting January 1, 2025. The grant application period is tentatively scheduled to commence Monday, September 30, 2024, thru October 11, 2024. NMISC has posted two (2) informational videos describing the application process, requirements and eligibility criteria.

The purpose of the LRG Groundwater Conservation Program is to initiate groundwater conservation actions that will ensure that New Mexico has a sustainable groundwater supply not only today, but for future generations of New Mexicans. Under the Program, grants will be provided to compensate willing irrigators in the Lower Rio Grande basin for temporarily conserving groundwater by not irrigating previously irrigated parcels for a period of twelve (12) months.

On-line Information (12 Month Grant)

Application Information (12 Month Grant)

Monday, September 30, 2024: Applications available
Friday, October 11, 2024, 4 PM: DEADLINE to submit Applications.
Applications must be mailed or dropped off in-person at the Office of the State Engineer, District IV Office, 1680 Hickory Loop, Suite J, Las Cruces, NM 88005.
Emailed Applications will NOT be accepted.
Please make appointments through the NMISC LRGGCP Team by calling: (575) 524-6161, and requesting a LRGGCP Grant Team Member.

Application Documents (12 Month Grant)

Maps

Spatial Database for use in completing the Application Form

Support Materials (12 Month Grant)

Necessary Legal Documentation (12 Month Grant) Required for: PDF

Conservation Program Background

The LRG Groundwater Conservation Program builds on the success and lessons learned through the LRG Water Management Pilot Program that operated from 2020 to 2023 with great success. In that project, the NMISC administered over 73 grant agreements from voluntary participants who chose to temporarily stop irrigating their parcels for a one-year period with a six (6) month extension. Over the course of the pilot program, a total of approximately 2,500 acres of land were temporarily restricted from applying groundwater, and NMISC issued $3.6 M in grant payments to these participants. Because of the success of the Pilot Program, the NMISC is currently operating a 24-month (2 year) grant Program, which is the 2024-2025 Lower Rio Grande Groundwater Conservation Program. This 2-year term has 57 grant agreements totaling approximately 3,070 acres, and $4.6 M in grant payments issued. Our primary focus is to voluntarily reduce groundwater consumption by temporarily and permanently retiring groundwater rights.

If you have any questions, please contact the NMISC LRGGCP team by calling (575) 524-6161.

Water Rights

Water Use & Conservation

Well Drilling

Water Planning

Office of the State Engineer