A report recently published in the Albuquerque Journal revealed that nearly 99 percent of New Mexico is in extreme, severe or moderate drought.
Long before the report was issued, we at the State Land Office (SLO) have been acting with great urgency to protect New Mexico water and I have implemented long-term water conservation initiatives.
Oil and gas activity on state trust lands generates 92 percent of the agency’s annual revenues, most of which supplements the operating budgets of public schools, therefore the industry’s investment in New Mexico is critical to our mission.
The oil and gas industry has used Ogallala water for production and related activity for decades and I have made efforts to curtail usage of water from the aquifer.
Under my direction, the SLO adopted a policy to review hydrologic reports before approving new, or renewing, land access applications to drill water wells on trust lands that involve the use of water from the Ogallala.
I have encouraged oil and gas and agricultural lessees to voluntarily enroll their leased acreage into the Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA), which provides incentives to implement water conservation practices.
Some conservation measures include avoiding drilling activities in certain areas; reducing sediment through erosion mitigation; avoiding low water crossings; and implementing habitat restoration programs.
In conjunction with that effort, I have asked State Engineer Tom Blaine to consider these issues when granting groundwater permits and surface water diversions that could very well cause the Black River to run dry.
The Permian Basin has a 50-year supply of oil and we need to ensure that we have a 50-year supply of fresh water.
As of February 28, 2018, the State Trust Lands Restoration and Remediation Fund has accrued nearly $1.3 million which is entirely earmarked for watershed stabilization projects.