A. The "acequia and community ditch infrastructure fund" is created in the state treasury and shall be administered by the interstate stream commission. The fund consists of money transferred from the New Mexico irrigation works construction fund and interest accruing to the fund. Disbursements from the fund shall be made by warrant of the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the director of the interstate stream commission or the director's authorized representative. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall revert to the New Mexico irrigation works construction fund.
B. Money in the fund is appropriated to the interstate stream commission to provide funding for the planning, engineering design or construction of irrigation works of acequias or community ditches, including dams, reservoirs, diversions, ditches, flumes or other appurtenances, for the purposes of restoration, repair, improvement of irrigation efficiency or protection from floods.
C. The interstate stream commission shall:
(1) in consultation with the acequia commission and the New Mexico acequia association, develop guidelines and criteria for program eligibility, applications and selection requirements;
(2) prioritize the provision of funding based on project readiness;
(3) review acequia or community ditch plans and specifications and inspect completed projects; and
(4) report biannually to the acequia commission on the progress of projects funded through the fund and the expenditure of money from the fund.
D. As used in this section, "fund" means the acequia and community ditch infrastructure fund.
History: Laws 2019, ch. 169, § 1.
Effective dates. — Laws 2019, ch. 169, § 3 made Laws 2019, ch. 169 effective July 1, 2020.
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Article 14 - Interstate Stream Commission; Protection of Interstate Streams
Section 72-14-1 - Interstate stream commission; creation; membership; organization.
Section 72-14-3.1 - State water plan; purpose; contents.
Section 72-14-3.2 - Water conservation plans; municipalities, counties and water suppliers.
Section 72-14-3.3 - Interstate stream commission; additional powers; strategic water reserve.
Section 72-14-4 - Budget and plan submitted to governor annually.
Section 72-14-5 - Annual expenditures made under budget and plan.
Section 72-14-6 - Appropriation; how disbursements are to be made.
Section 72-14-7 - [Governor authorized to protect water rights in interstate streams.]
Section 72-14-8 - [Governor may employ persons and fix their compensation.]
Section 72-14-9 - Definitions.
Section 72-14-10 - [Power to purchase, exchange and condemn property.]
Section 72-14-11 - Projects using revenue bond proceeds authorized.
Section 72-14-12 - [Power to cross watercourses and avenues of transportation.]
Section 72-14-13 - Water conservation revenue bonds authorized; extent of state obligation.
Section 72-14-14 - Revenues from bonds to be applied to cost of projects and associated expenses.
Section 72-14-15 - Funds established.
Section 72-14-16 - Bond proceeds to be appropriately credited.
Section 72-14-17 - Commission to set prices, rates or charges; contracts; disposition of property.
Section 72-14-20 - [Contracts and leases with agencies of United States authorized.]
Section 72-14-22 - Rights of bondholders; enforcement.
Section 72-14-24 - Purpose of act.
Section 72-14-24.1 - Acequia and community ditch infrastructure fund; created.
Section 72-14-25 - [Adjustment of plans and operations to facilitate federal aid to project.]
Section 72-14-27 - [Liberal construction of act.]
Section 72-14-29 - Loans from New Mexico irrigation works construction fund.
Section 72-14-30 - [Expenditure of funds for feasibility studies.]
Section 72-14-31 - [Loans to include sums for feasibility study.]
Section 72-14-32 - [Loans to supplement federal funds authorized.]
Section 72-14-33 - ["Project" defined.]
Section 72-14-34 - Budgets required.
Section 72-14-35 - [Exemption from Bateman Act.]
Section 72-14-36 - [Special water revenue bonds of interstate stream commission; purpose.]
Section 72-14-38 - Terms and conditions of bonds.
Section 72-14-40 - Sale of bonds.
Section 72-14-41 - Guarantee by severance tax funds.
Section 72-14-42 - Approval of issue.
Section 72-14-43 - Legislative findings; state appropriation of unappropriated water.
Section 72-14-45 - New Mexico unit fund; purpose; appropriation.