Deb Haaland Rallies in Support of Land Grant, Acequia Funding at Roundhouse’s Annual Acequia Day

Haaland’s support for rural communities will protect traditional land use, water

SANTA FE, NM – Today, Deb Haaland, candidate for New Mexico governor, rallied in support for Land Grand and Acequia infrastructure funding alongside land grant and acequia community leaders at the Roundhouse. At the event, Haaland announced her support for House Bill 21, the Land Grant-Merced Acequia Infrastructure Act, currently under consideration in the legislature.  

Deb Haaland has long been a proponent of the traditional land and water management systems which are critical for protecting natural and water resources in northern New Mexico and ensuring that communities in northern New Mexico continue to have access to the flow of resources. The discussion today centered on the New Mexico acequias role in sustaining water resources. 

“Acequias are not only living history, they are neighbors caring for land and water together which is critical in a time when water is threatened by natural disasters and climate change. 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.”

Since launching her campaign for governor, Haaland has toured land grants and met with acequia communities to discuss the needs of their communities and traditional practices to steward New Mexico’s land and water. She visited Morphy Lake in Mora County to see the impact of a wildfire on the watershed. Haaland outlined her priorities for strengthening New Mexico’s water infrastructure, including modernizing groundwater management in overdrawn basins, expanding stormwater capture systems statewide, and offering competitive grants to farmers for modern irrigation technology at the Next Generation Water Summit this summer. 

Haaland has a strong record of supporting rural communities. As Secretary of the Interior added acequias to traditional community water organizations for water management engagement. Also under her leadership at the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Land Management strongly supported the Land Grant-Mercedes Traditional Use Recognition and Consultation Act, a bill Haaland cosponsored as a member of the U.S. House that would improve consultation and communication between federal agencies and New Mexico’s land grant communities. She oversaw hundreds of millions of dollars in investments in major rural water infrastructure projects, and investments in the New Mexico Acequia Association to aid water resilience.