Deb Haaland, who is running for governor of New Mexico, met with leaders from the South Valley Regional Acequia on Sunday. State Senator Linda Lopez and Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero also attended the event. During the meeting, Haaland announced her support for a proposal to secure permanent and annual funding for land grants and acequias in the state.
The conversation focused on the role that acequias—traditional water management systems—play in protecting natural resources and supporting communities throughout New Mexico. Haaland emphasized their importance, stating: "Acequias are living history—neighbors caring for land and water together. Protecting them will not only support our northern communities, it will strengthen local governance and preserve New Mexico’s heritage," said Haaland. "It’s essential infrastructure for a changing environment. Let’s invest in what makes our state strong."
Haaland has visited several land grant areas and acequia communities during her campaign to learn about their needs and traditional resource management practices. She also traveled to Morphy Lake in Mora County to observe wildfire impacts on local watersheds.
Earlier this year at the Next Generation Water Summit, Haaland presented her priorities for improving New Mexico's water infrastructure. Her plans include modernizing groundwater management where aquifers are overdrawn, expanding stormwater capture across the state, and creating competitive grant programs to help farmers adopt modern irrigation technologies.
As Secretary of the Interior, Haaland expanded engagement between federal agencies and traditional community water organizations such as acequias. She also supported legislation designed to improve consultation with land grant communities—the Land Grant-Mercedes Traditional Use Recognition and Consultation Act—which she cosponsored while serving in Congress. During her tenure at Interior, she directed significant investments into rural water infrastructure projects as well as funding for the New Mexico Acequia Association to bolster water resilience efforts.
