ACEQUIA & DITCH INFRASTRUCTURE FUND TRANSFER

More funding for ditches and forests

Beginning July 1, 2026, New Mexico transfers $5 million each year to the acequia and community ditch infrastructure fund. It also transfers $1 million each year to the forest land protection revolving fund. Both transfers come from the New Mexico irrigation works construction fund, whose unused money stays in the fund. That fund receives unpledged irrigation reservoir income and money provided by the legislature. It pays authorized project investigation, construction, and preliminary costs before project bond money arrives. Bond proceeds must repay those costs and the project's share of general administrative costs. Project obligations cannot exceed available funding, and damaged public or private property must be restored or adequately compensated. The commission can also fund projects when owners transfer or pledge the works and agree to repay project costs, including operation and maintenance. Construction contracts under those arrangements require advance approval from the state board of finance. The commission can accept outside contributions of money, property, or other things of value for authorized purposes. The law does not provide direct household payments or individual eligibility rules.