Middle Rio Grande Regional Water Plan

Planning Method
For this RWP, water supply and demand information was assessed in accordance with a common
technical approach, as identified in the Updated Regional Water Planning Handbook: Guidelines
to Preparing Updates to New Mexico Regional Water Plans (where it is referred to as a common
technical platform) (Handbook). This common technical approach outlines the basis for defining
the available water supply and specifies methods for estimating future demand in all categories
of water use:
• The method to estimate supply (referred to as the administrative water supply in the
Handbook) is based on withdrawals of water as reported in the New Mexico Water Use by
Categories 2010 report prepared by the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer
(NMOSE). Use of the 2010 data provides a measure of supply that considers both
physical supply and legal restrictions (i.e., the water is physically available for
withdrawal, and its use is in compliance with water rights policies) and thus reflects the
amount of water available for use by a
region.
• An estimate of supply during future
droughts is also developed by
adjusting the 2010 withdrawal data
based on physical supplies available
during historical droughts.
• Projections of future demand in nine
water use categories are based on
demographic and economic trends and
population projections. Consistent
methods and assumptions for each
category of water use are applied across all planning regions.
Common Technical Approach
To prepare both the regional water plans and the state
water plan, the State has developed a set of methods for
assessing the available supply and projected demand
that can be used consistently in all 16 planning regions
in New Mexico. The objective of applying this
common technical approach is to be able to efficiently
develop a statewide overview of the balance between
supply and demand in both normal and drought
conditions, so that the State can move forward with
planning and funding water projects and programs that
will address the State’s pressing water issues.
Public Involvement
The updated Handbook specifies that the RWP update process “shall be guided by participation
of a representative group of stakeholders,” referred to as the steering committee. Steering
committee members provided direction for the public involvement process and relayed
information about the planning effort to the water user groups they represent and other concerned
or interested individuals.
In addition to the steering committee, the water planning effort included developing a master
stakeholder list of organizations and individuals interested in the water planning update. This list
was developed from the previous round of water planning and then expanded through efforts to
Middle Rio Grande Regional Water Plan 2017
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