§ 72-4A-5. Board; duties

The board shall: A. adopt rules governing terms and conditions of grants or loans recommended by the board for appropriation by the legislature from the water project fund, giving priority to projects that have been identified as being urgent to meet the needs of a regional water planning area that has a completed regional water plan that has been accepted by the interstate stream commission; that have matching contributions from federal or local funding sources available; and that have obtained all requisite state and federal permits and authorizations necessary to initiate the project; B. authorize qualifying water projects to the authority that are for: (1) storage, conveyance or delivery of water to end users; (2) implementation of federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 collaborative programs; (3) restoration and management of watersheds; (4) flood prevention; or (5) water conservation or recycling, treatment or reuse of water as provided by law; C. create a drought strike team to coordinate responses to emergency water shortages caused by drought conditions; and D. evaluate projects, including their environmental impacts, and recommend projects to the interstate stream commission pursuant to the provisions of Section 72-14-45 NMSA 1978 .