SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico has launched a new public dashboard allowing residents to track the state’s progress on a long‑term effort to address future water shortages.
State officials unveiled the 50‑Year Water Action Plan Implementation Dashboard on Tuesday, providing real‑time updates on projects and goals aimed at preparing for drought and climate change. Scientists working with the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources estimate the state could be 25% drier within the next 50 years, potentially creating a significant water supply gap.
The dashboard tracks progress across three core areas of the state’s water strategy: conserving existing freshwater supplies, developing new water sources, and protecting water quality. Officials say the plan addresses mounting pressure on water systems as demand continues to grow from agriculture, municipalities, industry, and households.
Currently, New Mexico uses roughly three million acre‑feet of water per year and is projected to face a future shortage of up to 750,000 acre‑feet if conditions continue without sustained action.
Among the plan’s targets are reducing rural and municipal water use by 10% by 2040, cutting water loss from public drinking water systems, and developing new water sources such as brackish groundwater through desalination projects. The state has committed $75 million toward strategic water supply projects with a goal of delivering additional water by 2028.
The plan also includes measures to protect surface water and groundwater quality, restore watersheds, and reduce wildfire risks across hundreds of thousands of acres statewide.
Officials say the dashboard is intended to improve transparency and help the public track how state agencies are responding to long‑term water challenges.
The dashboard is available online at water-dashboard.nm.gov.
