Dialogue 22nd Annual Statewide Meeting

Planning: How Can It Make a Difference?

To see the agenda and to download or view slide presentations and listen to audio files from the 22nd Annual Statewide Meeting, go here.

The New Mexico legislature enacted statutes in 1987 that created a regional water planning (RWP) framework.  The first regional water plans weren’t accepted by the Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) until 1999; the last in 2008.  In 2013, the ISC initiated a new round of regional water planning. As a result of work undertaken so far, each of the 16 regions will receive drafts of an updated regional water plan – prepared largely by ISC consultants and staff – late this fall and early winter.  

The 22nd Annual Statewide Meeting provided an opportunity to address several issues that relate to improving both the planning process and its outcomes. How can regions better integrate ongoing planning with implementation? How can we strengthen processes to assure adequate representation of the values and concerns each region’s diverse people? How can our institutions for governing and managing our water resources become more nimble and responsive to accelerating climate change impacts? How can RWP help the State better address funding for needed projects?  And finally, how can we enhance dialogue, cooperation, and coordinated action among local, regional, state, and federal actors – that is, how can regional water planning make a difference?