New Mexico Passes Public Water and Landowner Protection Bill

The New Mexico state legislature reaffirmed the rights of landowners to manage wading and fishing access to non-navigable streams on private lands. New Mexico landowners urged passage of the legislation following an opinion issued by a former New Mexico attorney general that ran counter to longstanding New Mexico rules and regulations. Sen. Richard Martinez and Rep. Paul Bandy sponsored the legislation. A broad coalition of landowners, guides, outfitters, and agricultural groups supported the bill, which now heads to Governor Susana Martinez for her signature.