If you haven’t yet read the Water Data Initiative’s 2025 Plan, now is a great time to take a look. The 2025 Plan, published in September is available on our website and highlights the priorities, progress, upcoming work, and budget needs of the Water Data Initiative agencies.
New Mexico faces growing water challenges driven by long-term drought, climate variability, and increasing demands on limited water resources. The 2025 Plan for the New Mexico Water Data Initiative (WDI), an annual requirement of the Water Data Act, provides an overview of what was accomplished over the past year, outlines the goals and actions for the year ahead, and identifies the funding needed to continue implementing the Water Data Act. It also includes updates on the long-term vision for integrated water data in New Mexico.
Read the New Mexico Water Data initiative 2025 Plan at newmexicowaterdata.org/resources
The Water Data Initiative is a collaborative, multi-agency effort led by the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR), with directing agencies including the Office of the State Engineer (OSE), Interstate Stream Commission (ISC), New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), and the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD). Together, these agencies are implementing the Water Data Act to modernize how water data is collected, shared, and used across the state.
The Directing Agencies of the Water Data Initiative
Progress in Water Data Accessibility
In FY2025, the initiative made significant progress. Agencies expanded the use of APIs and machine-readable datasets, dramatically increasing public access to water information.
- EMNRD alone received more than 8 million data requests to their newly developed API endpoints, demonstrating strong demand for transparent and accessible water data.
- NMED advanced public access to water quality information by publishing datasets to the EPA’s Water Quality Portal.
- NMBGMR continued development of tools like the Data Integration Engine and Weaver, which help visualize and analyze groundwater trends statewide.
- NMOSE/ NMISC’s Water Planning Program website, Main Stream New Mexico, supports Regional Water Planning and features an interactive mapping tool that combines census population data with statewide water datasets (use, precipitation, and critical habitat areas) to show where New Mexico’s water comes from, how it is managed, and how it can be conserved.
Water Data Initiative Funding Achievements and Needs
Meeting the expectations of the 2019 Water Data Act requires a significant expansion of duties and infrastructure for each agency, as well as support for the statewide effort of data integration. These efforts are supported by a mix of state appropriations, grants, and philanthropic investments.
Agencies have identified funding received and ongoing funding needs to support staffing, technology, and long-term maintenance of these systems.
The total annual recurring funding still needed for all agencies is $2.18 million, with $1.63 million already received.
New Mexico Water Data Initiative Collaborative Funding Needs
Impacts
Accessible, integrated water data is essential for regional planning, climate adaptation, and sustainable water stewardship. The New Mexico Water Data Initiative demonstrates how coordinated investment in data infrastructure can support smarter water management and help communities navigate an increasingly uncertain water future.
Looking forward
New Mexico Water Data Initiative will continue to focus on improving water data accessibility, integration, and management in response to water scarcity and climate variability challenges. Data integration is a key focus of the work moving forward, with NMBGMR prioritizing data pipelines and platforms that connect regional, state, federal, and research datasets to support long-term water planning and resilience in New Mexico.
Attendees at the Annual Water Data Initiative Workshop, October 2025
Attendees at the Annual Water Data Initiative Workshop, October 2025
Publication Date 02.19.26
