AG Balderas Calls on New Mexico Game Commission to Strengthen New Mexico’s Waterway Access Rules

For Immediate Release:
November 21, 2019
Contact: Matt Baca — (505) 270-7148

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Today, Attorney General Hector Balderas called on the New
Mexico Game Commission to immediately strengthen its regulations to address waterway
access in compliance with state law. The Attorney General’s call for action follows a years
long debate surrounding the public’s right to access waterways that are adjacent to private
land.
“New Mexican families and landowners deserve access to our waterways while protecting
the safety of their property, so I will be directing the commission to strengthen the process
to protect private property rights and minimize trespass, while respecting access rights
and outdoor activities of sports enthusiasts.”
In 2015, the New Mexico Legislature passed legislation that addressed the balance
between protecting private landowners’ interests in protecting their property from trespass
and damage, while ensuring New Mexicans’ rights of access to waterways are protected.
Game Commission regulations address these matters, but the current commission
leadership has raised concerns regarding the adequacy of the permitting processes these
regulations create. The Office of the Attorney General will work with the commission in
the coming months to strengthen the rules governing these processes and ensuring that
the Legislature’s intent is carried out.