Bill
SM 3
The bill requests state agencies to jointly develop a statewide beaver management plan with stakeholder input to balance ecological benefits and land-use conflicts.
Status
- Introduced: February 10, 2025
- Committee actions: Senate Rules Committee DO PASS (Mar 5, 2025; vote 6–0); Senate Conservation Committee DO PASS, amended (Mar 11, 2025; vote 4–3).
- Final disposition: Action postponed indefinitely (June 3, 2025).
- Classification: Memorial (non‑binding request).
Purpose and intent
- Recognize watershed and ecosystem benefits of North American beavers in New Mexico (groundwater recharge, erosion control, water‑quality filtration, riparian resiliency) and request development of recommendations for a statewide beaver management plan that captures ecological benefits while minimizing conflicts with agriculture, infrastructure and other land uses.
Key provisions and required actions
- Requests that the following state agencies jointly develop recommendations on how to proceed to create a statewide beaver management plan and present them to the appropriate legislative committee(s) by October 1, 2025:
- New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (DGF)
- Forestry Division of the Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)
- State Land Office (SLO)
- (As added by amendment) New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) and New Mexico Environment Department (NMED)
- Directs the work group to propose:
- Which agency should lead development of the plan,
- Which stakeholder groups should be included,
- A timeline and budget for plan development.
- Amended language directs the agencies to consult with stakeholders including soil and water conservation districts, acequia associations, farmers and ranchers (and “other” stakeholder groups).
Who is affected
- State resource and natural‑resource agencies (DGF, EMNRD/Forestry, SLO, NMDA, NMED).
- Local stakeholders: irrigators, acequias, soil and water conservation districts, farmers, ranchers, transportation/infrastructure managers, and conservation/restoration organizations.
- Potential beneficiaries: watersheds, riparian ecosystems, wildlife and communities reliant on water resources.
Fiscal and administrative impacts
- Memorials contain no direct appropriation. LFC fiscal note: likely an indeterminate but minimal additional operating impact on agencies; SLO believes it can absorb work within existing budget; EMNRD reports potential need for additional staff/legal counsel and limited capacity; DGF has relevant expertise but did not provide analysis.
- House GAA includes a related $10.5 million (Government Results & Opportunity Fund) over three years for species conservation including the beaver — related but not dedicated to this memorial.
Significant considerations and alternatives
- DGF lists the beaver as a “species of greatest conservation need.” EMNRD suggested beaver management actions might be incorporated into the State Wildlife Action Plan or existing forest/watershed coordinating bodies rather than a stand‑alone plan. Forestry Division expressed limited capacity to coordinate due to wildfire responsibilities. NMED has experience with beaver dam analog projects and water‑source protection and was added as a recommended partner.
Procedural note
- As a memorial, SM 3 requests agency action and does not create binding regulatory requirements or appropriate funds. The memorial’s June 3, 2025 status of “action postponed indefinitely” indicates it was effectively tabled and did not advance to enactment.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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