Lower Rio Grande Adjudication
Explore Section
Useful Links
New Mexico Office of the State Engineer
For specific questions about your water right:
New Mexico Office of the State Engineer
Santa Fe District Office
130 South Capitol Street
Concha Ortiz y Pino Building
P.O. Box 25102
Santa Fe, NM 87504-5102
505-827-6150
Las Cruces District Office
Litigation and Adjudication
1680 Hickory Loop, Suite J
Las Cruces, NM 88005
575-524-6330
The Joe M Stell Water Ombudsman Program
The Joe M Stell Water Ombudsman Program
For questions about the water right adjudication process:
The Water Ombudsman Program at the University of New Mexico Utton Center
The Utton Transboundary Resources Center
UNM School of Law
1117 Stanford NE
MSC11 6070 . 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
1-866-822-6134 (press 2)
Darcy Bushnell – 505-277-0551 (direct line)
The primary mission of the Ombudsman Program is to educate unrepresented (pro se) parties about: 1) why they would want to actively participate in water rights adjudication, and 2) how to participate in an informed and timely fashion.
Ombudsman acts as a third party neutral advisor and can help pro se claimants understand options available to them for responding to pleadings and offers of judgment or consent orders from the state. The Ombudsman does not offer legal advice.
New Mexico Courts
NM Courts - Online Case Look Up
Animas Adjudication website
Alternative Dispute Resolution Program
Water Law Mediation: Staff at the Office of the State Engineer (OSE) first attempt resolution of a claim. If an agreement is not reached, the OSE refers the case to the Court’s program and a mediator is assigned. Third Judicial District Court Mediation Program Manager: Lisa Betancourt: 575-523-8267