New Mexico State land is spread throughout the state in a somewhat sporadic manner.  The fees derived from State land are used to further school education for the children of New Mexico.  Fees are collected from the users of State land and some of these users are the Ranching industry, the Oil and Gas Industry and licensed hunters during an established hunting season.  Some state land is sold to promoters for growing communities that have need of more land to expand housing and business within their communities.

     Water rights in the State of New Mexico are very precious.  New Mexico has some of the oldest and strongest water laws established in the West.  Water law goes back to the 1600’s when acequias were formed.  (An acequia is a conveyance of water and membership and ownership is made up of the users and is governed by a mayordom in charge of distribution.)  Water will continue to be a vital issue in the development and sustainability of the rural properties and knowledgeable representation in these areas is a must.

     The beginning of 2006 saw new septic laws for the State.  The need to protect our underground water sources from pollution was the driving force for this new law.  Systems are monitored in some instances and always inspected upon transfer of ownership.  We have handled numerous of these transfers satisfactorily and will be able to guide you with compliance in this area.

     Currently State land lease fees are derived from the amount of livestock the land will support and the recent livestock market. Fees have remained static for the past four years.