SANTA FE – The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission published the New Mexico Water Security Planning Act: Engagement Report, which details the public engagement activities carried out as part of the process to develop a ruleset and guidelines under the Water Security Planning Act of 2023. The report is now available to read at MainStreamNM.org/data-and-reports/.

Through the Main Stream New Mexico campaign, the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (NMISC) conducted 16 open house public meetings throughout the state to involve communities in the process to develop a ruleset and guidelines under the Water Security Planning Act. This conversation is especially critical now, as New Mexico faces a projected 25% reduction in surface water over the next 50 years.

"We are incredibly proud of how this approach to public engagement was received," said Andrew Erdmann, NMISC Water Planning program manager. "We fostered meaningful conversations that will allow communities and stakeholders to work together to secure New Mexico's water future for years to come."

The 0pen houses were held in 16 cities across the state, one in each of New Mexico's existing water planning regions, as well as through an online platform. In-person attendance included 710 people, and over 1,600 people engaged online, ensuring that voices from across the state — including remote areas — were heard, resulting in a total of 23,625 responses collected from online and in-person participants to various questions. Of the people who participated in the process, more than half (54%) reported they had never been involved with water planning before.

To maximize public engagement, NMISC utilized a broad media strategy, including Meta and Google ads that generated 9.9 million impressions, 79 radio ads statewide, and 47 print ads across 32 newspapers. The campaign's website, MainStreamNM.org, attracted over 75,000 visitors and recorded over 109,000 page views.

Main Stream New Mexico is the public's guide to revitalized regional water planning under New Mexico's Water Security Planning Act of 2023. It is a campaign of the Interstate Stream Commission Water Planning Program. The Water Security Planning Act is New Mexico's guiding legislation for regional water planning and management. It creates a roadmap for regionalized water planning and implementation that prioritizes the unique needs of local communities, makes use of the best available science and data, and maintains compliance with federal and state laws. For more information and to sign up for the monthly newsletter, please visit MainStreamNM.org.