STOCK WATER APPLICATIONS TO STATE ENGINEER

SB 470 requires livestock owners (not others) to apply directly to New Mexico's State Engineer for permits to store surface water for watering livestock, effective July 1, 2025. It limits this simplified application process to small impoundments (10 acre-feet or less) and excludes uses like fishing, recreation, or aesthetic purposes, which still require standard water permits. Applicants must prove legal access to land for livestock and demonstrate the water is solely for livestock watering, not other activities. The bill clarifies that only livestock owners may apply for these specific permits, streamlining the process for small-scale livestock water needs.