New Mexico’s state engineer Tom Blaine is granting ranchers access to surface water in the Lincoln National Forest after the federal government began fencing off streams and lakes to protect an endangered species of mice.
Blaine is dispensing licenses protecting ranchers’ rights to surface water that have been in continuous use for watering livestock since before 1907, when New Mexico’s water code was adopted, according to a June 9 order.
“One of my top priorities is to protect the water rights of New Mexicans — including our farmers and ranchers,” Blaine said, according to the Alamogordo Daily News. “I’m confident that stakeholders will continue to work with my office so that we can continue responsibly protecting our natural resources and the livelihoods of our families and businesses.”
The New Mexico meadow jumping mouse was listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2014. After the United States Forest Service began fencing off surface water in 2016 to protect the mouse habitat, ranchers and lawmakers began criticizing the agency for disregarding the rights of landowners.
“We are grateful that the state engineer has taken a stand to defend his jurisdiction and to protect these senior preexisting water rights from federal encroachment,” attorney Blair Dunn told the Associated Press.
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