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Middle Rio Grande Regional Water Plan

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plan recognizes that water is easily the most serious issue affecting the County and sets forth a<br />

goal of balancing the needs of a growing population while retaining the rural residential<br />

character and culture of the County. The plan also sets as a goal ensuring an adequate and<br />

sustainable supply of high-quality water for current and future needs of the County. The plan<br />

outlines the following objectives to meet these goals:<br />

• Administer water rights in the Estancia Basin as a Special Groundwater Management<br />

Area.<br />

• Educate water users about the necessity of water conservation, while offering<br />

conservation techniques.<br />

• Protect groundwater by preventing land uses that pollute the groundwater.<br />

• Support a Basin-wide program of comprehensive monitoring, metering, and ongoing<br />

investigation of water resources in the Estancia Basin.<br />

• Promote the efficient use of centralized water and wastewater systems in the urbanizing<br />

areas of the county.<br />

Torrance County subdivision regulations require that subdivisions containing 20 or more parcels<br />

with at least 1 parcel of 2 acres or less must have a State Engineer permit to appropriate for or<br />

transfer water to the subdivision. See Section 5.7.<br />

4.1.5.8 Valencia County<br />

The only specific water ordinance for Valencia County is related to subdivision water use.<br />

Title XV of the county ordinances (Land Usage), §151.066, requires a State Engineer permit if<br />

insufficient water is available to fulfill the maximum water requirement for the subdivision.<br />

<strong>Water</strong> use in Valencia County is primarily guided by the Comprehensive Land Use <strong>Plan</strong> for<br />

Valencia County, New Mexico (Valencia County, 2005). This plan sets forth the following<br />

goals:<br />

• Encouraging the preservation of the water resources of the County for future generations<br />

by protecting to the extent possible all surface waters for agricultural production,<br />

recreational activities, ecosystem management, and aquifer recharge<br />

• Promoting water conservation and drought preparedness programs throughout the County<br />

• Supporting restoration of the <strong>Rio</strong> <strong>Grande</strong> Bosque to be maintained as a healthy riparian<br />

ecosystem<br />

<strong>Middle</strong> <strong>Rio</strong> <strong>Grande</strong> <strong>Regional</strong> <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> 2017 47

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