New Mexico Water Data Act (NMSA 1978, § 72-4B)
- Policy Category: Open Water Data
- State: New Mexico
- Date Implemented: 6/14/2019
6/14/2019
The Water Data Act (NMSA 1978, § 72-4B) marks the first time in New Mexico’s history that a law has been enacted to identify and integrate key water data. In response to this 2019 legislation, the directing agencies including New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (NM ISC), New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (NM OSE), New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), and the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), as convened by the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR), are developing an integrated Water Data Service for New Mexico. Multiple working groups have been convened, working to ensure that the data and useful information about the data is findable, accessible, interoperable, and usable for those seeking water information for decision making related to water management and planning – the primary goal of the legislation. The initial data platform can be found at newmexicowaterdata.org as a first data inventory step for this multi-year project.
Scope of Water Data Act
“By January 1, 2020, the agencies, as convened by the bureau of geology and mineral resources of the New Mexico institute of mining and technology, shall:
- identify key water data, information and tools needed to support water management and planning;
- develop common water data standards for data collection;
- develop an integrated water data and information platform; and
- identify available and unavailable water data.”
The Act developed a Water Data Account to receive legislative appropriations and gifts.
- Action Agency(ies): New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (NM ISC), New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (NM OSE), New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), and the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR)
- Read the full policy language
